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COFXRICHT DEPOSm 



HISTORY AND LEGENDS 

of 

THE ALAMO 

and 

OTHER MISSIONS 

IN AND AROUND SAN ANTONIO 




By 
ADINA DE ZAVALA 



J. 

HISTORY and LEGENDS 

THE ALAMO f^^ 

and 

OTHER MISSIONS 

in and around 

SAN ANTONIO 




Church of the Alamo as it is today. 



By 
ADINA DE ZAVALA 



ri'i'^ 



Copyrighty 1917, by Adina De Zavala 

All rights reserved. 

Published December, 1917. 

141 Taylor Street, 

San Antonio, Texas. 



/i- 



t^.. 



— 2— 
©CU481177 

DEC 27 1917 



TO THE ''DE ZAVALA DAUGHTERS:' 

Noble, Loyal, Unselfish, Patriotic Women in Whose 

Veins Course the Blood of the Heroes, 

Statesmen, Patriots, Pioneers, 

and Founders of Texas, 

and to 

BE ZAVALA CHAPTER, 

This Little Book 

Is Affectionately Dedicated 

By the Writer. 




Give Me the Land Where the Ruins are Spread. 



" . . . . Give me ttie land where the ruins are spread, 
And the living tread light on the hearts of the dead; 
Yes, give me a land that is blest by the dust 
And bright with the deeds of the down-trodden just. 
Yes, give me the land where the battle's red blast 
Has flashed to the future the fame of the past; 
Yes, give me the land that hath legends and lays 
That tell of the memories of long vanished days: 
Yes, give me a land that hath story and song, 
Enshrine the strife of the right with the wrong; 
Yes, give me a land with a grave in each spot 
And names in the graves that shall not be forgot." 

— Abraham J. Ryan. 



FOREWORD. 



I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Rolla Taylor, an 
artist of San Antonio, Texas, for copying faded pictures; 
to Mesdames Adele B. Looscan and Jessie B. Howe, of 
Houston, Texas, for kindly assistance; to Mr. Fernando 
M. Urbina, of Mexico City, for copies from the various 
Mexican archives and to Mrs. Laura V. Grinnan of Austin, 
Texas, for help in the Spanish translations. 

All rights are reserved in new historical matter, 
legends, and pictures, and nothing herein contained may 
be used without the express permission of the writer; 
all of the matter has been specifically copyrighted sep- 
arately or in combination. 

The history of the Alamo is placed first, as it is of 
the most general interest. Mission San Francisco is 
given next, because it is the oldest of all and a review 
of its history will give a better understanding of the rest. 
Mission San Jose is placed last as it was in reality founded 
later than the Missions of Concepcion and San Juan, al- 
though the latter were not brought to the vicinity of 
San Antonio until ten years later. 

A larger and fuller history of the Important Events 
of Texas and of the Missions of Texas, will soon be ready 
for publication. 

(Adina De Zavala.) 

San Antonio, Texas, 
141 Taylor Street. 
December 8, 1917. 



—5— 



TEXAS 



Empire Majestic, with thy head so proud, 
Pillowed on mountain heights of snow and cloud; 
And kingly feet laved by the tepid tide 
Of Aztec waters, sun-kissed, free and wide! 
Realm of eternal spring and blessedness, 
Of flower's breath, and mock-bird songs that cease 
Not, all the golden months of all the year! 
Land of cerulean sky, low-dipped, and clear! 
Oh, praries boundless, breeze-tossed, cattle-nipped! 
Oh, hidden streams, translucent and deer-sipped! 
Oh, sweet hills verdant- footed, purple-hazed! 
Oh, fields of cotton-snow and golden maize, 
Oh, valleys of low-lying, blue-green wheat, 
Up where the mesa and the cold waves meet! 
'what wonder that men's blood leapt forth, to flow 
Chivalric, for thee, at the Alamo? 
Land of my birth, and soul's intensest love! 
Dear is thy soil, thy calm, blue sky, above; 
Dear are thy aims to all my eager heart, 
And dear thy people, of myself a part. 

(Belle Hunt Shortridge in Lone Star Lights.) 



"Dear is thy flag, its red and white and blue. 

And dear thy "Lone Star," ever pointing true. 

Dear are thy Landmarks, — every stone and tree 

That tell of love and hearts' blood poured for thee 

That Race, and Heir, might ever still aspire — 

Their hearts, and souls and minds reach upward! Higher! 

Oh may this sacred heritage of martyrs brave. 

Demand response, and shame each knave! 

Until thy empire, known the wide world o'er, 

A Haven prove till time shall be no more." 

(Adina De Zavala.) 



THE ALAMO 

(Mission San Antonio de Valero.) 

What the people of the present day speak of as "The 
Alamo ' ' is known in the ancient records and to the early- 
settlers of Texas as Mission San Antonio de Valero. 

The locality of ''The Alamo," (Mission San Antonio 
de Valero,) was suggested as a mission site by Father 
Damian Manzanet, in 1690, but the mission itself was 
founded later by the perseverance of Father Antonio 
de San Buenaventura y Olivares who went alone to the 
Indians who lived in the vicinity of the present City of 
San Antonio. 

Father Olivares wrote to the Viceroy of New Spain, 
in 1716, telling him of his hopes and plans for Mission 
San Antonio de Padua, and urged him to send out 
families, as settlers, for a pueblo; families who should 
serve as object lessons to the Indians of the life they 
were expected to lead. In this same letter he stressed 
the fact that it was necessary that some of these families 
should be skilled in the useful arts and industries in 
order to teach the Indians all that should be required 
to make them useful and capable citizens. 

Father Olivares maintained himself alone at San 
Antonio for some time after he organized his mission, 
and gathered together the Payaya Indians who spoke 
the same language as the Xaramas, near the Rio 
Grande, where he had established the Mission of San 
Francisco Solano. He won the love and respect of all 
the Indians in the locality. He was particularly success- 
ful with the tribe who formed a village on the east side 
of the San Antonio River. Unfortunately, his labors 
were for a time suspended by a serious accident. While 
crossing a rude bridge made of logs and covered by 
earth, the foot of the animal he was riding w^ent through 
a hole, and the priest, thrown suddenly and violently, 
had his leg broken. A messenger was sent, at once, to 
the nearest mission on the Rio Grande, for a Father to 

—7— 




come to him, and Padre 
Pedro M\inoz immedi- 
ately responded, driving 
before him on pack 
animals everything he 
thought might be needed 
for the relief of the in- 
jured man. He made 
the journey, without 
rest, in an incredibly 
short space of time, ad- 
ministered to his af- 
flicted Brother the con- 
solations of religion and 
then set his leg. 
It was a long time before Father Olivares was able to 
walk. When he was able to go about again, he changed 
IMIssion San Antonio de Valero to the other side of the 
San Antonio River where what is left of it is seen to- 
day, and known as ''The Alamo." He lost no time in 
erecting the mission buildings and perfecting a system 
of waterworks by which the mission and pueblo were 
abundantly supplied with water by ditches running 
frora the river. These ditches also served to irrigate 
the mission lands on which were grown the needed food 
supplies. 

A certified statement still exists to the effect that on 
May 1, 1718, Don Martin de Alar con gave to Fray 
Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares possession ' ' of 
the mission site at the Indian village on the banks of 
the San Antonio River." 

When Alarcon went to establish the Presidio of 
San Antonio de Bexar, in 1718, he took with him about 
thirty families, who seem to have been families of mem- 
bers of his company, and settled them in the vicinity of 
the mission. Father Olivares had some time before this, 
in obedience to orders, transferred Mission San Fran- 
cisco Solano to San Antonio de Padua. ]\Iission San 



Francisco Solano was originally founded by him in the 
Valley of the Circumcision on January 1, 1700, and was 
moved several times before its final transfer to San 
Antonio. 

The first baptismal record extant of Mission San An- 
tonio de Valero w^as entered July 8, 1718. Other inter- 
esting records are signed by the Venerable Anthony 
Margil, founder of most of the Texas missions who 
visited San Antonio several times and remaiiied at San 
Antonio de Valero for quite a while after the trouble 
with the French on the eastern frontier, in 1719. 

The Alamo (Mission San Antonio de Valero) was 
built for a large industrial school to teach, civilize and 
christianize the Indians of the locality. It was a sort of 
walled city or fortress, and was composed of several 
buildings with their courts or patios, and a long rect- 
angular plaza with rows of houses or rooms built along 
the sides of the walled area, and covering about three 
acres of ground. All the buildings and the ten-foot 
wall which surrounded the entire Alamo fortress were 
of stone. The high wall was needed as a protection 
against the savage Indians. In this industrial school 
the Indians were taught to weave coarse cloths, em- 
broidered cotton shawls, blankets, and other needed 
materials. They were also taught every trade or occu- 
pation that was thought useful to them at the period, as 
husbandry, stock-raising carpentry, blacksmithing, 
architecture or house construction. They were taught, 
too, to read and speak Spanish, to w^rite, sing, sew, em- 
broider, draw, carve and paint, each according to his 
talents. Even their political education was not neglec- 
ted, they being taught civic government. A governor 
and alcalde were annually elected by the Indians, and 
these Indian officials then held authority in the mission 
pueblo for one year. The full story of the foundation 
and conduct of this large industrial school under the 
name of Mission San Antonio de Valero is very interest- 
ing. It ceased to be a school and mission somew^here 
about 1783 or 1785. Contagious diseases, of some kind, 

—9— 



wrought great havoc among the Indians at the Alamo 
in 1763, and greatly depleted their numbers. In fact, 
it might be said that the establishment declined from the 
date of the scourge, on account of the loss of so many 
of its christianized adults. There were no tractable 
Indians about the vicinity to refill the school and mis- 
sion, and those brought in from a distance were taken 
to the missions below, and thus gradually, by reason of 
the older mission Indians and their children becoming 
civilized and incorporated with the rest of the popula- 
tion in habits and manners, although still continuing to 
inhabit the mission and pueblo, this last changed its 
character and became an ordinary \dllage or pueblo. 

The corner-stone of the church of Mission San An- 
tonio de Valero — what is now known as the ' ' Church of 
the Alamo" or the "Alamo Church" — was laid May 8, 
1744, many years after the foundation of the mission 
and long after the erection of the other buildings of the 
establishment. The pretty church with its twin towers, 
arched roof, and graceful dome, was entirely finished 
about 1757 — when to the great distress of the inhabit- 
ants of the mission it began to crack, and finally ''tumb- 
led in" about 1762, — ^the old records say, — "on account 
of the stupidity of the builder. ' ' 

They started to rebuild it, but, owing to a frightful 
scourge which carried off nearly all the adult Indians 
of the mission, and other causes, it was never done, and 
the ancient church came down to comparatively modern 
history filled with the debris of its two towers, arched 
roof and dome. * 

About the year 1849, Major Babbitt, acting Quarter- 
master of the Eighth Military Department, took posses- 
sion of the Alamo Buildings in the name of the United 
States Government to use them as a Quartermaster's 
Depot. He found the Church of the Alamo "choked 
vith debris, a conglomeration of stones, mortar and 
dirt," just as it was left when the twin towers, the dome 

* See newspapers of the day and Wm. C'^rner in San Antonio de 
Bexar. 

—10— 



and the arched roof fell in, 
(about 1762), and, with the 
disintegration and injury of 
nearly one hundred years ad- 
ded. He cleared away some 
of the rubbish, but it was not 
until 1878, that it was en- 
tirely cleared out. On No- 
vember 15, 1878, in removing 
the debris, nearing the origi- 
nal level of the Church, they 
uncovered among other ob- 
jects a beautifully carved bap- 
tismal font, belonging to the 
earliest missionary period of 
the locality. 

Occasionally, officers of 
the Franciscan order came to 
Texas on a tour of visitation 
and inspection and made a 
report on the mission. We 
hear of it also through the 
military channels when 
writers accompanying the military would be interested 
enough to describe the missions and country visited. 

Father Juan Morfi who visited Texas with Don Theo- 
dore de Croix, the first commandant-general of the "in- 
terior provinces," wrote of the "very decadent condi- 
tion" of Mission San Antonio de Valero, in 1778, owing 
to the ' ' small number of Indians who live in it, scarcely 
enough to cultivate its small area." "The living quar- 
ters," he continues, "are beneath an arcade which 
forms a square with the Church and the residence of the 
Fathers. The latter has a tower at the principal door- 
way, where two mortar guns are kept as defense against 
enemies in case of attack, which is by no means a rare 
occurrence. In the center of the courtyard there is a 
well of fine water, although the river is only twenty 




Old Font 



—11— 



steps away,* it was constructed with the same caution 
which was responsible for the tower. The residence is 
uncomfortable and badly kept, showing its age and care- 
less construction." 

In the archives of the mission still extisting, we find 
no burials recorded after 1782, no baptisms after 1783. 
The last marriage was entered in 1785, however, the 
leaves following this record are missing and there may 
have been others. It is plain from a note below signed 
by Father Valdez, that there were later baptismal re- 
cords, at least, although it is possible that they were not 
of the mission proper, but of the pueblo. 

On the 25th day of February 1793, some of the 
people from the m^ission and Presidio of Adaes on the 
eastern frontier, across the Sabine, were settled about 
Mission San Antonio de Valero, and land, ''as much 
as four pecks of seed corn will cover," was given to 
each who applied, with fee simple title. They are styled 
in the records, Adaesenos. They were placed "in pos- 
session one by one of the ir suertes which were allotted 
to them quietly and peacefully, .... using and 
observing all the ceremonies, formalities and re- 
quisites which are necessary and which are required by 
common use and having also ordered them to pull weeds 
and throw stones, which they executed to the four 
winds, in fact of having found themselves royally in 
possession, etc., and by the same it is given to them that 
they may take it and profit thereby, they, their heirs 
and successors " 



* The walls of the Alamo were on the west side of the buildings 
now fronting east on the west side of Alamo Plaza, opposite the 
main building of the Fort. The river came in very close, to what 
is now Losoya Street, and consequently, was but a short distance 
away. 

—12— 















..v..^,i^ 1 




-*-: Z::^ 



Old Manuscript Showing tlie Allotment of the Lands. 

Mission San Antonio de Valero was officially secular- 
ized in August 1793, that is, the mission and pueblo 
were transferred from the government of the missionary 
Fathers to the ordinary eclesiastics and officers. 

On the last page of the Book of Baptisms is found the 
following : 

—13— 



''On the 22nd day of August, 1793, I transferred thiu 
book of records of the pueblo of San Antonio de Valero 
to the Archives of the town of San Fernando and pre- 
sidio of San Antonio de Bexar, by order of the Right 
Rev. Doctor Don Andres de Llanos y Valdez, the most 
worthy Bishop of this diocese, dated January 2nd, of 
the same year by reason of the said pueblo having been 
aggregated to the curacy of Bexar; and, that it may be 
known, I sign it. 

Fray Jose Francisco Lopez, Parish Priest." 

It seems that this same Father was acting parish 
priest of San Fernando for some time, while in charge 
of the Mission and Pueblo of Mission San Antonio de 
Valero. 

All the missions in the jurisdiction of Don Pedro de 
Nava, Commandant-General of the Internal Provinces, 
were secularized by decree dated April 10, 1794. The 
Franciscans remained in many instances as pastors of 
their flocks; but they received their jurisditcion from 
the Bishops as all other parish-priests, and not from 
the superior of their order. 

Father Lopez transferred the Valero records to his 
successor as follows: 

San Antonio De Bexar, June 14, 1794. 

On the day of this date I received from the Rev. 
Father Jose Francisco Lopez, Avho was Minister of the 
Mission of San Antonio de Valero, until it was deliv- 
ered into the hands of the ordinary, this book, in which 
are set down the records of baptisms pertaining to said 
mission, and performed up to the year 1783 — noting 
that the records which may be searched for from the 
year 1788 may be found in a new book found in parch- 
ment; from leaf 2 to leaf 100, together with these that 
belong to the following year, and which may be entered 
hereafter. I make this note that it may serve as an in- 
dex, and I sign it with the same Rev. Father — date as 
above. 

Bachiller Gavino Valdez. 

—14— 



I delivered this book, on the day of date, to the 
Parish-Priest, Don Gavino Valdez; and that it may be 
known I sign. 

Fray Jose Francisco Lopez. 

Father Valdez transferred to his successor in charge 
of San Fernando as follows: 

San Antonio de Bexar, July 11, 1804. 

''On this day I received from the Senor Cura, the 
Bachiller Don Gavino Valdez, my predecessor, this 
book, pertaining to the new pueblo of San Antonio de 
Valero; and in testimony, we sign it. 

''Jose Clemente Delgado, 
"Bachiller Valdez." 

A Franciscan Father, while any remained in the 
province, usually acted as chaplain to the troops sta- 
tioned about Mission San Antonio de Valero, as well as 
parish priest of the pueblo of San Antonio de Valero, 
and often as acting parish priest at San Fernando^ 
hence we find their names signed in such various capa- 
cities in the records. 

The pueblo of San Antonio de Valero had a separate 
alcalde up to the year 1809; perhaps later; but under 
Governor Martinez, it was under the same rule as San 
Antonio de Bexar.* 

On the 2nd day of February 1814, "baptism is noted 
as being administered in the Church of Bexar by th« 
chaplain of the company;" (of the Alamo de Parras) 
but it does not appear that they ceased to use the Chapel 
of the mission for the administration of the sacraments 
or religious services "until about the 22nd day August, 
1825, when the curate of San Antonio received the re- 
cords of baptism, marriages, etc., of the company of 
the Alamo de Parras from the hands of the chaplain."* 

In 1822, the beloved Franciscan, Father Jose Anto- 
nio Diaz de Leon, who was assassinated in 1834, near 
San Augustine, Texas, baptised at San Antonio de Va- 
lero. 

* Yoakum, Appendix, page 461. 

—15— 



Both the civil and eclesiastical jurisdiction of the 
pueblo of the Alamo seem to have fluctuated consider- 
ably. 

''The sacred taper's lights are gone, 

Gray moss has clad the altar stone, 

The holy image is o'erthrown, 

The bell has ceased to toll. 

The long ribbed aisles are burst and shrunk, 
The holy shrine to ruin sunk, 
Departed is the pious monk, 
God 's blessing on his soul ! " 

The famous company known as ''la compania volan- 
te del Alamo de Parras," came in 1805, and remained 
at San Antonio de Valero so long that they are refer- 
red to in the archives of Bexar as "the ancient com- 
pany." The troops were first stationed without the 
walls of the mission but the depredations of the savages 
were so frightful and continuous that they were soon 
compelled to take refuge within the walls. From the 
long residence of this company in the mission, the mis- 
sion-fortress finally lost its original and official name 
and became known, coloquially, to the people about, as 
"The Alamo." As late as 1831, this same company was 
in Texas, at Tenoxtitlan, on the Brazos. 

During the countless revolutions and uprisings of 
repoiblicans, royalists, adventurers and Indians, life and 
property were no longer safe in San Antonio, and near 
by places. All who could get away did so. 

In 1813, when Governor Salcedo surrendered to the 
Republican Army of the North, the Americans marched 
into the Alamo Fort and took possession of it, together 
with all the army stores, the arms, the military chest, 
etc., liberating seventeen of their countrymen found 
there and adding them to their ranks. Thus all along 
the line we find the Alamo in use as a stronghold, first 
by one party and then the other, during the numerous 
revolutions which shook this part of New Spain. 

After the separation from Spain the troubles incident 

—16— 



in the formation of a new government kept the country 
in a state of unrest for a time. 

Then came the settlers from the North American 
States, and when Santa Anna declared himself dicta- 
tor, they refused to obey his decrees. 

They rose in small bodies all over the province of 
Texas, captured small forts here and there and under 
Stephen F. Austin marched to San Antonio. 

A detachment of Texans under Colonels Fannin and 
Bowie defeated a large body of Mexicans at Mission 
Concepcion, October 28, 1835. After besieging San An- 
tonio for some time, 301 Texans under Colonel Ben- 
jamin Milam captured San Antonio under General Cos. 
INIilam was killed and Colonel Francis Johnson who led 
the second division succeeded to the command and raised 
the flag over Bexar. The Headquarters is still in exist- 
ence, being the old administrative palace on Militar3' 
Plaza bearing the coat-of-arms over the doorway. 

Colonel Johnson was sent to lead an army to the west, 
and was succeeded in San Antonio by Colonel J. C. 
Neill. Colonel Neill fully realized the danger of the 
Texans on the unguarded frontier and sent urgent de- 
mands for reinforcements. 

The Commander-in-Chief, Sam Houston, sent Colonel 
Bowie with a small company. Governor Smith sent 
Colonel William Barrett Travis with the few men the 
latter could gather. David Crockett and a few others 
arrived, but all told there were not more than 150 men. 
In the meantime Colonel Neill had gone home on a leave 
of absence leaving Travis in command. It was later ar- 
ranged that both Travis and Bowie should sign all or- 
ders until Neill's return. Both Tl-avis and Bowie beg- 
ged for more men, as did Fannin from Goliad. 

Some of the leaders seemed to think that it would be 
impossible for the IMexicans to reach the settlements 
before the middle of March, or later. General Houston 
asked for a furlough and left his command, without 
notifying or requesting the next officer in rank to take 
charge. There seemed to be no head at the time of the 

—17— 



crisis. The Governor was deposed by the Council of 
Texas and the Lieutenant-Governor recognized as head 
by that body. Some continued to address Governor 
Smith as Governor, others appealed to the Council. The 
people seemed paralyzed for the time being and failed 
to realize the urgent need of an immediate rally of 
men to the front to support Fannin at Goliad and 
Travis at the Alamo. 

When the Texans occupied the Alamo in 1835-1836, 
the fort was in the same state for defense in which it 
had been left by General Cos when he surrendered to 
the Texans in December, 1835. On January 6, Colonel 
Neill wrote that they had in all about twenty-four pie- 
ces of artillery, but that they had ''two distinct fort- 
resses to garrison." He later abandoned the fortifications 
in Bexar (San Antonio) and moved all the guns to the 
Alamo. Green B. Jameson was placed in charge of the 
repairs and improvements needed at the Alamo, and 
was soon at work erecting batteries, planting cannon 
and planning for better fortification. 

The Church in the Alamo was a ruin, and was still 
filled with debris from its two towers, dome and arched 
roof, which fell in about 1762. The rooms on the north 
side of the Church, and the west tower rooms retained 
the arched roof, and were therefore free of debris, and 
the only part of the Church edifice that was free of 
debris. The main building of the Alamo fort was the 
long two-story stone building on the east side of the 
Plaza and described in the old manuscript as a two- 
story stone building about "fifty yards square, with 
areaded galleries above and below." It had many doors 
opening out upon the Plaza or main area; and for the 
defense of the building, these doors, then, had within a 
semi-circular parapet, for the use of marksmen, com- 
posed of a double curtain of hides, upheld by stakes and 
filled in with rammed earth. Most of the rooms were 
also loop-holed. This long ])uilding was the most securely 
fortified of any within the fort, and in the upper story, 
on the south end, was the hospital of the fort. 

—18— 







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--19— 



PLAT <>y the .I/4V0 

_ . 




KEY TO PLAT OF THE ALAMO 

(Originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero, and founded as 
Indnstrtal School and Mission-Fortress.) 

OLD REFERENCES— 1836 

1. The Church in the Alamo. Corner-stone laid May 
8, 1744. Towers, dome, and arched roof fell in 
previous to or in 1762, and debris remained un- 
touched until about 1850, when much was removed 
by M^jor Babbitt, U. S. A., in the years he had 
possession. 

2. The fortified main building of the Fort referred to 
by Potter as 'Hhe long barrack, a two-story stone 
building." It had, originally, arcaded galleries 
above and below.* 

3. Doors in (2) having within a semi-circular para- 

• Documentos para la Historia de la Proyincla de Texas, (MS.) 
Mexican Archives. Bolton and Barker, With the Makers of Texai. 

—20- 



pet composed of a double curtain of hides upheld 
by stakes and filled in with rammed earth. Loop- 
holed. 

4. Old Galera or "Prison," also referred to by Potter 
as the "low barrack." 

5. Porte-cochere or entrance to Fort. 

6. Stone walls and rooms surrounding Fort. 

7. Acequia (ditch) running through Plaza. 

8. Rooms used as powder magazines during siege. 

9. Cedar post stockade, ditch and earthworks m use 

during siege. ,.,-,• i, 

10 Hospital upstairs in main Alamo buildmg where 

Bowie was killed and above which, in tower room, 

a small gun did fine execution. At this corner the 

flag of the Alamo floated. 
11. Entrance to the court yard and rooms surrounding 

it. Originally the principal entrance to mam 

building. . ,.,-,. r, 

12 Court yard or Patio of the mam building where 
some of the heroes were burned. Originally, this 
court yard was surrounded on the four sides by 
rooms or arcades. . 

13. A second court yard existing at an earher period. 

14 Old well that was dug or reopened during siege. 

15 Ditch was dug connecting the acequias on the south 
of the Fort, thus completely surrounding the 
Alamo by canals. Note cannon and batteries. 

NEW REFERENCES— 1917. 

a. Federal building, Federal court house and Post 
Office. 

b. Government lot. , . » , t^ . 
c Front of the Main building of the old Alamo Fort. 

The Alamo proper, where the heroes died, which to- 
gether with the Church (1) is all that is left of the 
original Alamo. 

d. Gibbs Building. 

e. Swearingen-McCraw Building. 

f. Circular curb of Plaza Garden. 

—21— 



Potter and other historians ^ve fourteen as the num- 
ber of guns used. Mrs. Dickinson said there were 
eighteen, and Green B. Jameson and Santa Anna placed 
the number at twenty-one. 

But, as Potter states, ''The number has little bearing 
on the merits of the final defense with which cannon had 
little to do. These guns were in the hands of men un- 
skilled in their use, and owing to the construction of the 
works, most of them had little width of range." 

*Potter placed the guns as follows: (1) One, a twelve - 
pounder was mounted on a high platform of earth 
formed by the fallen dome and roof of the Church, and 
pointed east through an embrasure roughly notched in 
the wall; another, (2) was aimed north through a 
similar notch, (3) was fired over the wall to the south, 
but all on the same platform. The powder magazines, 
and the women and children, were in the covered rooms 
of the Church, the rooms on the north and west left in- 
tact when the roof fell in. To protect the women and 
children and magazines and prevent entrance in that 
quarter, was the mission of these three guns. Marksmen 
were also stationed around the roofless Church on the 
heaped up debris (and on wooden scaffolds where nec- 
essary) that they might fire over the roofless walls, using 
them as parapets. Between the Church and the gate of 
the Alamo was a battery of four guns, (4, 5, 6, 7,) aV 
four-pounders, pointing south. The porte-cochere, (the 
gate of the Alamo) through the low barrack, was covered 
on the outside by a lunette of stockades and earth, and 
mounted with two guns (8, 9). In the southwest angle 
of the large area was an eighteen-pounder, (10) in the 
center of the west wall was a twelve-poimd carronade, 
(11) and in the northwest corner of the same area an 
eight-pounder, (12) and east of this within the north 
wall, two more guns of the same caliber (13, 14). All 
the guns of this area were mounted on high platforms 

* Andrade changed the fortifications of the Alamo after it's fall. 
This accounts for some of the difference in the arrangement of the 
cannon or batteries in the Potter plan. 

—22— 



of stockades and earth and fired over the walls. 

Of the four additional guns mentioned by Mrs. Dick- 
inson and others, one, a small gun, was placed in the 
small tower room over the hospital,* in the south end of 
the main building of the fort, and did fine work in 
mowing down the enemy as they swarmed into the large 
area; three cannon were placed in the west wall of the 
fort near its north corner; Jameson placed two others 
on a platform near the southern end of the Plaza of the 
fort. The platforms on which the cannon were, were 
composed of stakes on end with rocks and dirt between. 

The several barriers were covered on the outside by 
a ditch, except where such a guard was afforded by the 
irrigating canal, which flowed on the east and west sides 
of the fort and through it, and served to fill the fosse 
with water.* 

Copy of a letter sent to General Sam Houston by 
Engineer Green B. Jameson, with a plan of the Alamo 
and showing batteries then erected, and those he pro- 
posed to erect. 

Bexar, January 18th, 1836. 
Major General Sam Houston, 
Sir: 
Believing that a letter will meet you at Goliad, and 
having had more time to make a better plot of the 
' ' Fortress Alamo ' ' at this place have embraced this con- 
veyance, to acquaint you more satisfactorily of the con- 

* In Brown's History, Vol. I, page 576, is the following: "When 
the attack came on, he (Bowie) was confined to his bed in the up- 
per room of the barrack marked (P.) He was there killed on his 
couch, but not without resistance ; for he is said to have shot down 
with his pistols one or more of the enemy as they entered the 
chamber." Again, on page 581, is found. "Col. Fulton says: 'About 
the first of August, 1837, I visited the Alamo, in company with 
Judge Baker, the Chief Justice of Bexar County, who directed my 
attention to the room I have marked (B.) as tiie one occupied by 
Bowie, being on his sick bed. when bayonettea by Santa Anna's 
minions.' " The room marked (P.) in the first reference above, and 
(B.) in the last, is the hospital room in the upper story of the main 
building of the Alamo and is marked (10) and (J) in plates ac- 
companying this. 

* See Potter, Jameson Plat, Plat by Mexican Engineer. Col. 
Ignacio de Labistida. March, 1836, also Drawing by Jose Juan 
Sanchez Estrada, 1829. 

—23— 



dition and progress of the department, which you have 
so kindly assigned me. 

1 send you herewith inclosed a neat plot of the 
fortress exhibiting its true condition at this time, as 
also an Index being duplicates of my former addressed 
to you at Washington, added to which is a recapitula- 
tion more explanatory, and showing the improvements 
already made by me. 

I am now fortifying and mounting the cannon. The 
18 pounder now on the N. W. ^corner of the fortress so 
as to command the Town and the country around. 

The officers of every department do more work than 
the men and also stand guard, and act as patrol every 
night. I have no doubt but the enemy have spies in 
town every twenty-four hours, and we are using our 
utmost endeavors to catch them every night, nor have 
I any doubt but there are 1500 of the enemy at the town 
of Rio Grande, and as many more at Laredo, and I 
believe they know our situation as well as we do our- 
selves. 

We have received 100 bushels of meal and 42 Beeves 
which will last us for two months yet to come, but no 
other supplies have come to our relief. 

You have heard so much about our situation from 
our Commander that I shall say nothing further on the 
subject. 

We can rely on aid from the citizens of this town 
in case of a siege, Saguine is doing all for the cause 
he can, as well as many of the most wealthy and in- 
fluential citizens. 

You can plainly see by the plot that the Alamo never 
was built by a military people for a fortress, tho' it is 
strong, there is not a redoubt that will command the 
whole line of the fort, all is in the plain wall and in- 
tended to take advantage with a few pieces of artillery, 
it is a strong place and better that it should remain au 
it is after completing the half moon batteries than to 
rebuild it. The men here will not labour and I cannot 

* In his plat it is plainly marked on the south-west corner. 
—24— 



ask it of them untill they are better clad and fed. 
We now have 114 men counting officers, the sick and 
wounded which leaves us about 80 efficient men. 40 
in the Alamo and 40 in Town, leaving all of the patrole 
duty to be done by the officers and which for want of 
horses has to be performed on foot. 

We have had loose discipline untill lately. Since we 
heard of 1000 to 1500 men of the enemy being on their 
march to this place duty is being done well and punc- 
tually in case of an attack we will move all into the 
Alamo and whip 10 to 1 with our artillery. 

If the men here can get a reasonable supply of cloth- 
ing, provisions and money they will remain the balance 
of the 4 months, and do duty and fight better than 
fresh men, they have all been tried and have confidence 
in themselves. 

I can give you full assurance that so far as I am 
concerned there shall be nothing wanting on my part, 
neither as an officer or a soldier to promote and sustain 
the great cause at which we are all aiming, and am at 
all times respectfully subject to your orders for the 
verification of which I refer you to my Commander at 
this place, as will all the officers and men. I have been 
much flattered for my exertions at this place. I have 
more than one time received the vote of thanks of the 
whole Garrison. 

I have one other subject which interests me some; 
to ask of you, if it is not too late, that is to recommend 
to your notice Capt. G. Navan, who is clerk in my de- 
partment for the appointment of Suttler at this Post 
as he is in every way qualified to fill the office. I know 
of no man who merits it more than he does, as an evi- 
dence of his patriotism he has absented himself from 
his family when he was also receiving a salary of $1800 
per annum to aid us in our difficulties. 
I am with esteem, 

Very Respectfully, 

Your obt. Servt., 

G. B. JAMESON. 



I will in my next give you a plan of the Town as 
fortified when we took it. We have too few to garrison 
both places, and will bring all our forces to the Alamo 
tomorrow as well as the cannons. In excavating our 
ditches we can with perfect safety rely on a fall from 
the two ditches or acqueducts of at least 20 feet, con- 
sequently we can make our ditches deep enough with 
perfect safety, and the earth here is of such a nature 
that it will not wash, and we can ditch very near the 
half moon batteries with perfect safety. I will say all 
that it is necessary in my answer to your official letter 
on this subject. In regard to the ditch we can have a 
flood gate at the mouth of it, which will answer for 
keeping in a supply of water in case of a siege, as also 
by raising,, for cleansing the Fortress. I am too much 
occupied to copy these papers but I shall be able to 
show you by demonstration when I have nothing else 
to attend to that I will not be wanting in my abilities 
as a topographical Engineer. 

• Respectfully, Your Obt. Servt. 

G. B. JAMESON. 

This same plat and letters were used by H. Yoakum 
in the preparation of his Texas History, and is referred 
to in his description of the Alamo as "the plat and 
letters which lie before me.' He sent the sketch on 
February 12, 1855, to Mar. Francis Giraud asking him 
to place upon it the measurements — length and thick- 
ness of the walls, and to return the sketch to him. He 
endorsed it: "The enclosed sketch of the Alamo with 
proposed alterations was drawn by Capt. G. B. Jameson 
a few days before he was killed at the taking of the 
Alamo. ' ' The plat and key and letters were also copied 
by Mrs. Mary Jane Briscoe, from papers belonging to 
Peter W. Gray, in July 1886. 



—26— 



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OS 


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ft 


h 


CO 






CD 






B 




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a 


t-l 


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o 

s 






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15 




ffi 


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-27 



INDEX TO THE PLAN OF THE ALAMO DESIG- 
NATED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. 

A. Represents the entrance into the Alamo with two 

cannon. 

B. Temporary redoubts of stakes on end and rocks and 

dirt between, the long one is in front of the house 
in which Col. Mendoza now lies wounded. 

C. The Guard House. 

D. Soldiers quarters built up of stone houses. 

E. Headquarters of Alamo now occupied by 2 wounded 

officers. 

F. Batteries and platforms where cannon are now 

mounted. 

G. Cannon mounted on the ground with ports in the 

main wall. 

H. Soldiers quarters built up of doby houses and pick- 
. eted all round as letter B. 

I. Strong stone walls without pickets all around. 

J. The hospital up stairs in a two story building of 
stone, the lower story being represented by the 
letter K. and now occupied as an Armory for 
our small arms. 

L. A large stone quartel for horses adjoining the Church 
San Antonio, Hospitals and Armory. 

M. The I\Iagazine in the Church San Antonio two very 
efficient and appropriate rooms 10 feet square 
each, walls all around and above 4 feet thick. 

N. All large vacancies inside the walls of the fortress, 
the Church San Antonio is in the Alamo and 
forms a part of the fortress and is marked by 
the letter 0. 

—28— 



p. The cannon mounted in the Alamo. Their number 
corresponding with that of the letters. 

Q. The acqueduct as around the fortress by which we 
are supplied with water, marked with red ink. 

R. A lake of water where we contemplate supplying 
the fortress by ditching from one of the acque- 
ducts laid down. 

S. A pass from the present fortress to a contemplated 
drawbridge across a contemplated ditch inside a 
contemplated half moon battery as laid down on 
the plan. 

T. A part of said ditch, as well as a trap door across 
said ditch, which is contemplated to be raised by 
a tackle from inside the half moon battery. 

U. The hinges on which said bridge is to be raised. 

V. The half moon battery at each end of the fortress 
as contemplated. * 

W. A 12 feet ditch around the half moon battery as 
contemplated. 

X. The contemplated ditch where we wish the perma- 
nent water to pass thro' the fortress and thence 
to pass out erecting an arch over each place and 
also a redoubt for a permanent cannon in case of 
siege. 

y. A ditch passing under the stone wall to the lake 
marked R. 

* The editor omitted the half moon battery on the north end of 
the Plaza of the Fort from the plat shown herewith, as it was 
thought that it was never completed. It corresponded exactly in 
construction to the one on the south end as shown in the accom- 
panying plat. 



—29— 



You will perceive in this index that I have always 
marked the parts of notoriety with more letters and 
characters than one of the same kind. 

The letter D represents a large stone building that 
will answer for a public store house. The letter V rep- 
resents a want of provision, munitions and men. 

I would recommend that the doby houses, letter H, 
to be torn down and stone houses erected in their stead. 
The stone can be obtained out of the old Church San 
Antonio, which is now a wreck or ruin of a once splendid 
Church. All we want now is provisions and munitions 
to stand a siege against an innumerable force tho' we 
are weak beyond imagination, not being more than 100 
strong since Johnson and Grant left, and there could 
be raised in town 300 men that could besiege us at any 
time. 



When on that eventful day in February, 1836, the 
sentinel posted in the lookout on top of the Church of 
San Fernando reported that he had seen armed men to 
the west, it was doubted, and scouts were sent out to 
reconnoiter. It was found to be true that the Mexican 
Army was upon them. Upon the hasty retreat of the 
scouts the Church bells were rung to give the general 
alarm, Travis ordered all into the Alamo fortress and 
everything was done that was possible, at the time, in 
preparation for defense. A large division of Santa 
Anna's army arrived soon after. 

Travis sent out messengers for assistance before the 
body of the enemy arrived and again before the place 
was invested. 

''Commandancy of Bexar, 
''Feb. 23, 3 o'clock, p. m. 1836. 
"To Andrew Ponton, Judge, and the Citizens of 
Gonzales : 
"The enemy in large force is in sight. We want men 
and provisions. Send them to us. We have 150 men 

—30— 



and are determined to defend the Alamo to the last. 
Give us assistance. 

"W. B. Travis, Lieut.-Col. Commanding. 

'*P. S. Send an express to San Felipe with the news 

night and day. 

''Travis." 

He called upon Fannin, at Goliad, feeling confident 
of his assistance, but with the enemy in the country, 
and Fannin without food and transportation, the latter 
was not able to make the march, though he attenjpted 
it, desiring to answer the call of a noble and beloved 
comrade. 

The following letter announcing the opening of the 
siege, has been called ' ' the most heroic document among 
American historical records."* 

Commandancy of the Alamo, 

Bejar, Feb'y. 24th, 1836. 
To the People of Texas and all the Americans in tlit3 
world : 

Fellow citizens and compatriots — I am besieged, by 
a thousand or more of the M'exicans under Santa Anna. 
I have sustained a continual Bombardment and can- 
nonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The 
enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, other- 
wise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort 
is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon 
shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. 
I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you 
in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything 
dear to the American character, to come to our aid with 
all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements 
daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thous- 
and in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am 
determined to sustain myself as long as possible and 

* George P. Garrison, iu "Texas." 
—31 — 



die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his 
own honor and that of his country. VICTORY OR 
DEATH. 

WILLIAM BARRETT TRAVIS, 

Lt. Col. Comdt. 

P. S. The Lord is on our side. When the enemy- 
appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn. 
We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels 
and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves. 

TRAVIS. 

Thirty- two heroes from Gonzales and DeWitt's col- 
ony, under the command of Captain Albert Martin, 
answered the call on March 1st, and gave to Texas a 
sublime example of self-sacrifice. 

The noble Bonham, a friend of Travis,' determined 
to stand by his friend and the men of the Alamo, re- 
turned March the 3rd, signaled the fort, and dashed in 
through the Mexican lines on his snow white steed. 
''Greater love hath no man than this, that he giveth his 
life for a friend. " James Butler Bonham failed in 
finding helpers, but he was determined that Travis 
should not fail for the use of his strong arm and coura- 
geous heart, and that he would win or die with him. 

And so, through the whole roll call of the Alamo 
heroes: each did his duty and stood at his post, hungry, 
— because there was no time for eating, and cold, and 
wearied out with long watching and firing. 

At last, Santa Anna determined on the final assault, 
and called a council of war, and the dawn of the 6th 
was the time chosen. The night of the 5th w^as the first 
respite the weary garrison had had from the continual 
din of cannon and arms and they sought the needed 
rest as the Mexican troops ceased firing. 

We can imagine the feeling which prompted them as 
each tried to do that which he thought should be done 
first.* And then to rest — ^but this rest was not for long. 

* Most of the mpn gave letters, wntches, jewelry, and other keep- 
sakes to Mrs. Difkinson and the other women to be sent to their 
loved ones. The Mexicans took everything. 

—32— 



At 3 o'clock, at a given signal, three columns of the 
Mexican army moved simultaneously on the Alamo, 
provided with axes, scaling ladders and fascines. 

The assault was begun! Again the cannons boomed! 
Every Texan was at his post, as the enemy showed them- 
selves above the wall, they were mowed down by the 
shots of the unerring Texans. Three times they wav- 
ered and retreated but were driven forward by their 
own cavalry. At last, one column gained an entrance 
through a breach on the north,* another then scaled the 
high wall on the west,* and the third repulsed on the 
south at the Church, also scaled the western wall. It was 
impossible for the few men of the Alamo to defend the 
outer walls long; and the most of them soon retreated 
into the long two-story stone building which was well 
fortified, ''and it was not till then, when they became 
more concentrated and covered within that the main 
struggle began. They were more concentrated as to 
space, not as to unity of command; for there was no 
communicating between buildings nor in all cases be- 
tween rooms. There was little need of command, how- 
ever, to men who had no choice left but to fall where 
they stood before the weight of numbers. There was no 
retreating from point to point, and each group of de- 
fenders had to fight and die in the den where it was 
brought to bay." From the doors, windows, and loop- 
holes of the several rooms of the main building, the crack 
of the rifle and the hiss of the bullet came fierce and 
fast; as fast the enemy fell and recoiled in his first 
efforts to charge. The gun beside which Travis fell was 
now turned against this building, as were also some 
others, and shot after shot was sent crashing through 
the galleries and doors and barricades of the several 
rooms. Each ball was followed by a storm of musketry 
and a charge ; and thus room after room was carried at 

♦ A little east of the center of the north wall of the Federal 
bnilflinp would approximate the position of the breach made in 
the north wall of the Alamo area on that fateful day. 

♦ The high wall on the west stood back beyond the front of the 
buildings on the west side of the Plaza. 

—33— 



the point of the bayonet, when all within them died 
fighting to t he last. ''The struggle was made up of a 
number of separate and desperate combats, often hand 
to hand, between squads of the garrison and bodies of 
the enemy. The bloodiest spot about the Fort was the 
long barrack and the ground in front of it, ivhere the 
enemy fell in heaps.''* 

A Mexican soldier gave his testimony as follows: 
''The Texans fought like tigers. The proportion was 
one to thirty, yet no quarter was asked and each sold 
his life as dearly as possible. The last moments of the 
conflict were terrible. The darkness of the rooms, the 
smoke of the battle and the shrieks of the wounded and 
dying all added to the terror of the scene. Unable to 
distinguish friend from foe, the IMexicans actually 
brained each other in their mad fury. After the battle 
was over and all were dead, the scene beggared descrip- 
tion. The floor of the main building was nearly shoe 
deep in blood, and weltering there were hundreds of 
dead men, many still clenched together with one hand 
while the other hand held the sword, pistol or knife 
which told how they had died in that last terrible 
struggle. And thus the curtain went down in darkness 
and blood on the saddest and sublimest event. in the 
world's history." 

Mrs. Dickison, wife of Lieutenant Dickinson, who was 
killed in the defense of the Alamo, Mrs. Alsbury, wife 
of Dr. Alsbury, with their children, and several other 
women and children, were during the time of the battle 
in the north rooms of the Church. Mrs. Dickinson and 
babe were sent on horseback to the Texans at Gonzales, 
and were soon joined by Tra\'is' negro servant who had 
escaped the guard. The other women were cared for 
by their relatives in San Antonio and vicinity. 

Mrs. Dickinson told how Evans, (Master of Ord- ' 
nance, who had been instructed to fire the magazines 

♦Captain Reuben M. Potter, U. S. A., who was in Matamoras at 
the time of the siege and fall of the Alamo, and afterwards in San 
Antonio, Texas. 

—34— 



when all was over,) was followed and killed by the IMexi- 
cans as he jumped down from the debris and attempted 
to enter the room where she was, in the north room of 
the Church, with torch in hand to carry out his instruc- 
tions. She also sp|j(je of gunner named Walker, who 
was killed in her f^^'esence as he was running for the 
magazine. ' 

None of the women and children were injured during 
the siege as they were not in the part of the fort where 
the battle raged. The women and children saw none of 
the main battle, as there were only the gunners and a 
few sharpshooters stationed on the roofless walls of the 
ruined Church to protect the magazines and prevent 
entrance in that direction, for the main conflict raged 
in the main building of the fort, the two-story stone 
building northwest and adjoining the Church and it was 
impossible for the women to either see or hear anything 
except the crack of the rifle, the shrieks of the men 
and the booming of the cannon. The women were only 
able to tell of the few who Avere killed in the Church 
part of the Alamo. "Thermopylae had her messenger 
of defeat, but the Alamo had none." 

The bodies of the dead heroes were ordered by Santa 
Anna to be piled in heaps and burned, and this order 
was in part executed in the court yard or patio of the 
main Alamo building, north of the Church. Tradition 
says that the first funeral pyre was lighted in the court- 
yard but that orders were given later to burn the rest 
of the bodies elsewhere, and that three pyres were made 
beyond the walls. The three pyres were to the south, 
southeast and east by south. When Captain Juan N. 
Seguin returned to San Antonio after tlie battle of San 
Jacinto, he gathered up the charred remains of the 
bodies of the Alamo heroes and buried them in the 
Church of San Fernando.* 

*So stated over the signature of Seguin. 
—36— 




A. Old Bell "San Antonio," preisented to De Zavaln Chapter, by 
Mr. Moses B. Oppenheimer. now of San Antonio. Texas B I'pper 
gallery of Alamo Fort as rebnilt by H (Jrenet. C Door leaflin"' 
from gallery of Fort into clioir loft of the Church of the Alamo D Old 
Baptismal Font. E. Window of Hospital of Fort in southwest end. 
showing great thickness of walls. F. Front of Bell "San Antonio," 
showing date, 1722. 



FROM DIARY OF DR. J. H. BERNARD, SURGEON 
OF FANNIN'S C0]\K]\IIAND. 

"Tuesday, May 17, 1836. Dr. Alsbury came in town 
to-day from General Felisola, now commander-in-chief, 
with a pass. He is son-in-law of Angelo Navarro, with 
whom I live. His wife and sister, together with a negro 
of Bowie's were in the Alamo when it was stormed. He 
has come in order to look after his family and take them 
off. He gave us all the particulars of the battle of San 
Jacinto, the capture of Santa Anna, the retreat of the 
Mexican army, and the number of volunteers pouring 
into Texas stimulated thereto by the fate of Fannin and 
Travis. 

Sunday, 22d. General Andrade has received orders 
to destroy the Alamo and proceed to join the main army 
at Goliad. The troops have hitherto been extensively 
engaged in fortifying the Alamo. They are now as busy 
as bees tearing down 

Tuesday, May 24, 6 o'clock P. M. As the troops left 
town this morning, (12 M.) a large fire streamed up 
from the Alamo, and, as soon as they had fairly left, 
Dr. Shackelford and myself, accompanied by Senor 
Ruiz and some other of the citizens, walked over to see 
the state in which they left it. We found the fire pro- 
ceeding from a church, where a platform had been built 

This was made of wood, and was too 

far consumed for any attempt to be made to extinguish 
it. The walls of the church being built of solid masonry, 
of course would be but little injured by the fire. The 
Alamo was completely dismantled, all the single walls 
were levelled, the fosse filled up, and the pickets torn 
up and hurnt. All the artillery and ammunition that 
could not be carried off were thrown in the river. 

Wednesday, May 25 After sauntering 

about the Alamo and calling to mind the startling and 
interesting scenes that have at different times been acted 
on this little theater, and the last unparalled in modern 
history, which forever marks this spot as the Thermopylae 

—38— 



of Texas ; after looking at the spot where it is said that 
Travis fell and Crockett closed his immortal career, we 
went to visit the ashes of those brave defenders of our 
country, a hundred rods from the fort or church to 
where they were hurnt. The bodies had been reduced to 
cinders; occasionally a hone of a leg or arm was seen 
almost entire. Peace to your ashes! Your fame is 
immortal! The memory of your deeds will remain 
bright and unsullied in the hearts of your countrymen ! ' ' 

When Seguin was raised to the rank of colonel and 
given a considerable force, he was instructed by the gen- 
eral in command to hold memorial services and pay the 
honors of war to the ashes of the Alamo heroes. This he 
did February 25, 1837. The account in the Telegraph 
and Texas Register of March 28, 1837, follows : 

''In conformity with an order from the general com- 
manding the army at headquarters, Colonel Seguin, with 
his command stationed at Bexar, paid the honors of war 
to the remains of the heroes of the Alamo; the ashes 
were found in three places, the two smallest heaps were 
carefully collected, placed in a coffin neatly covered 
with black, and having the names of Travis, Bowie and 
Crockett engraved on the inside of the lid, and carried 
to Bexar, and placed in the parish church, where the 
Texas flag, a rifle and sword were laid upon it for the 
purpose of being accompanied by the procession, which 
formed at three o'clock on the 25th of February: the 
honors to be paid were announced in the orders of the 
evening previous and by the tolling knell from daybreak 
to the hour of interment; at 4 o'clock the procession 
moved from the church in the following order : 

''Field officers, staff officers, civil authorities, clergy, 
military not attached to the corps and others, pall 
bearers, coffin, pall bearers, mourners and relatives, 
music, battalion, citizens. 

"The procession then passed through the principal 
street of the city, crossed the river, passed through the 
principal avenue on the other side, and halted at the 

—39— 



place where the first ashes had been gathered. The 
coffin was then placed upon the spot and three volleys 
of musketry were discharged by one of the companies; 
the procession then moved to the second spot, whence a 
part of the ashes in the coffin had been taken, where 
the same honors were paid; the procession then pro- 
ceeded to the spot and place of interment where the 
graves had been prepared; the coffin had been placed 
upon the principal heap of ashes, when Colonel Seguin 
delivered a short address in Spanish, followed by Major 
Western in English, and the ashes wfere buried." 

No one knows the exact spot where the ashes of the 
heroes were buried, though many have pojnted out 
where they think it is; but the old building in which 
they gave up their lives still stands, and the ancient 
court yard in which some were burned and where the 
blood of heroes is mingled vdth the soil, still exists 
sacred to Texans and all patriotic people. 



The greatest heritage of the children of Texas and 
America is the noble example of its great men and 
heroes. Let us not forget their deathless deeds, for the 
moment we begin to ignore the sublime virtues exem- 
plified by the noble souls of our race, our degeneration 
has begun. 

Let us save our landmarks and sacred battlefields and 
buildings as reminders and monuments. No monument 
til at could be erected by the hands of man to the 
memory of the heroes could be as great or as sacred as 
the Alamo itself, wherein we are brought face to face 
with the history and scenes from the lives of the men 
who made the Alamo immortal. 

Only two of the buildings of the Alamo still stand, 
the Alamo proper, where the heroes died and piled the 
enemy before them in heaps, where the floor was shoe 
deep in the blood of friend and foe ; and the old Church, 
then a ruin, whose north rooms sheltered the women and 
children and magazines, and which was defended by a 
few gunners and sharp shooters. 

—40— 



If you love and appreciate the noble and sublime do 
all you can to save these two old buildings and the old 
court-yard, — all that are left to remind us of the sub- 
lime sacrifice of the men of the Alamo. 



LIST OF HEROES KILLED IN THE ALAMO. 

In the Texas Almanac for the year 1860 was found a 
list of the Texan Heroes who defended the Alamo when 
it was besieged by the Mexican Army commanded by 
General Santa Anna, and who all perished when that 
famous foirtress was captured, March 6, 1836. This list 
differs from many that are published, but is believed to 
be accurate, having been compiled from offiQial and 
other authentic sources. 

W. Barrett Travis, Lt.-CoL, Comdr. 
'James Bowie, Lt.-CoL, Comdr. 
J. Washington, Colonel, Tenn. 
.J. B. Bonham, Captain, South Carolina. 
— ■ Forsyth, Captain, New York. 

— Harrison, Captain, Tenn. 

W. Blazeby, Captain, Louisiana. 
W. C. M. Baker, Captain, Miss. 
W. R. Carey, Captain, Texas. 
• S. B. Evans. Captain, Miss. 
S. C. Blair, Captain, Texas. 

— Gilmore, Captain, Tenn. 
John Jones, Lieutenant, 

Almaron Dickinson. Lieutenant, Louisiana. 

I. G. Baugh, Adjutant. 

Chas. Despalier, Aide to Travis. 

Robert Evans, Master of Ordn'ce, Ireland. 

Elial Melton, Lt. Quartermast'r. 

— Anderson, Asst. QuartermastV. 

— Burnell, Asst. Qr. Master. 

— Williamson, Sergt. Major. 

D. Michison, Surgeon. 
Amos Pollard, Surgeon. 

— Thompson, Surgeon. 
Green B. Jameson, Ensign. 

David Crockett, Private, Tennessee. 

E. Nelson, Private, South Carolina. 

— Nelson. Private, Texas. 
W. H. Smith, Private Texas. 
Lewis Johnson, Private, Texas. 

E. T. Mitchell Private, Georgia. 

F. Desangue, Private, Pennsylvania. 

— Thruston, Private, Kentucky. 

—41— 



— Moore, Private. 

Christopher Parker Private, Mississippi 
G. Huskell, Private. 

— Rose, Private, Texas. 
John Blair, Private. 

— Kiddeson, Private. 

Wm. Wells, Private, Tennessee. 
Wm. Gumming, Private, Pennsylvania. 

— Valentine, Private. 

— Gochran, Private. 

R. W. Ballantine, Private. 
S. Halloway, Private. 
Isaac White, Private. 

— Day, Private. 

Robert Muselman, Private, New Orleans. 
Robert Grossman, Private. 
Richard Starr, Private, Etngland. 
I. G. Garrett, Private, New Orleans. 
Robert B. Moore, Private. 
Richard Dimkin, Private, England. 
Wm. Linn» Private, Mass. 

— Hutchinson, Private. 
Wm. Johnson, Private, Penn. 
E. Nelson, Private. 

Geo. Tumlinson, Private. 

Wm. Deardoff, Private. 

Daniel Bourne, Private, England. 

— Ingram, Private, England. 
W. T. Lewis, Private, Wales. 
Gharles Zanco, Private, Denmark. 
Jas. L. Ewing, Private. 

Robert Gunningham, Private. 

S. Burns, Private, Ireland. 

George N.eggin, Private, South Carolina. 

— Robinson, Private Scotland. 

— Harris, Private, Kentucky. 
John Flanders, Private. 

Isaac Ryan, Private, Opelonsas, La. 
David Wilson, Private, Texas. 
John M. Hays Private, Tenn. 

— Stuart, Private. 

W. K. Simpson. Private. 

W. D. Sutherland, Private, Texas. 

D. W. Howell, Private, New Orleans. 

— Butler, Private, New Orleans. 
Ghas. Smith, Private. 

— McGregor, Private, Scotland. 

— Rusk, Private. 

— Hawkins. Private, Ireland. 
Samuel Holloway, Private. 

—42— 



— Brown, Private. 

T. Jackson, Private, Ireland. 

— John, Clerk to Deangue. 

George G. Kimbell, Lieutenant, Gonzales, 
James George, Serg;eant, Gonzales. 
Dolphin Ward, Private, Gonzales. 
Thos. Jackson Private, Gonzales. 
Geo. W. Cottle, Private, Gonzales. 
Andrew Kent, Private Gonzales. 
Thos. R. Miller, Private Gonzales. 
Isaac Baker, Private, Gonzales. 
Wm. King, Private, Gonzales. 
Jesse McKoy, Private, Gonzales. 
Claiborne Wright, Private, Gonzales. 
W. Fishback Private, Gonzales. 
Isaac Milsaps, Private, Gonzales. 
Albert Martin, Private, Gonzales. 
Galba Fuqua Private, Gongales. 
John Davis, Private, Gonzales. 
R. A. M. Thomas, Private, Gonzales. 
Wm. Fuhbaigh, Private, Gonzales. 
John G. King, Private, Gonzales. 
Jacob DuTst, Private, Gonzales. 
M. L. Sewell, Private, Gonzales. 
Robert White, Private, Gonzales. 
A. Devault, Private, Gonzales. 
John Harris^ Private, Gonzales. 
David Kent, Private, Gonzales. 
W. E. Summers, Private, Gonzales. 
M. Autry, Private. 



For many years the Alamo was abandoned as a great 
tomb, a plac3 of horror to many who recalled the story 
of the frightful sacrifice of the heroes of 1836. 

As the civil jurisdiction of Texas passed from Mexico, 
the eclesiastical jurisdiction passed also, and the Rt. 
Rev. J. M. Odin thought best to have the Spanish title 
confirmed, and on January 13th and 18th, 1841, the 
Congress of the Republic of Texas passed an act grant- 
ing ''the Church of the Alamo," and the other mission 
Churches with their out-lots to the Catholic Church, 
thus settling the title for the benefit of the new-comers 
to the country, for "the title to the Church was complete 
without the aid of the act of 1841," as it was theirs. 

—43— 



''either by direct grant or by ancient possession."* 

About 1847, after the annexation of Texas, the 
Quartermaster of the United States Army took posses- 
sion of the Alamo claiming the property as belonging 
to the United States. It was used for an arsenal several 
years, for offices, and as a Quartermaster's depot. In 
April, 1847, the United States acknowledged to hold as 
tenant of the Bishop of Texas, Rt. Rev. John ^l. Odin; 
and ]\lr. Bryan Callaghan, of San Antonio, acted as 
agent for the Bishop, part of the time, in receiving the 
rents. The tenancy of the United States continued until 
the breaking out of the civil war, in 1861, and was re- 
sumed after the war — the military authorities of the 
Confederate States during the war occupying the prop- 
erty, in the same manner, as tenants of the Church. 

In 1851, the City of San Antonio set up a claim to the 
Alamo, but lost its suit. 

In 1865, the Bishop wishing to turn the Alamo Church 
over to the use of the German Catholics of San Antonio 
directed his secretary and vice-chancellor to notify the 
United States to vacate the building. A polite note was 
addressed to IMajor General IMierritt asking "possession 
of said Church in order to furnish a suitable and con- 
venient place of worship to the German Catholic Con- 
gregation of San Antonio." The note was signed by 
Thomas J. Johnston and J. T. Fourey, Secretary and 
Vice-Chancellor to the Bishop. ^lajor General Merritt 
replied that "the government required this building 
for the use of the Qr. ]\Ir. Dept. for the present" that 
it was then "used for receiving grains, and its vacation 
by the Govarnment would be attended with great in- 
convenience and serious loss." 

The German Catholics were accomodated elsewhere, 
near by, and this incident caused the loss of the Church 
of the Alamo as a parish Church, and eventually its sale, 
as it was thought, that, as a Church, it was not needed 
so close to the new German parish Church. 

♦Messrs Upson and Welder, of San Antonio, Texas, in opinion 
rendered February 2. 1886. 



In 1879, Bishop A. D. Pellicer conveyed to H. Grenet, 
for the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars, all the interest 
of the Catholic Church in the Alamo, exclusive of the 
Alamo Church. 

In 1883, the Rt. Rev. John C. Neraz, sold the Church 
of the Alamo to the State of Texas for Twenty Thous- 
and Dollars. The City of San Antonio applied for the 
custody and was given charge. 

The people of San Antonio had looked upon the old 
Alamo building as public property for years, as Mr. 
Honore Grenet, the owner, had publicly announced his 
intention of devoting it to the memory of the heroes of 
Texa^s, by gift to the people. Part of the old building 
was long used as a Museum. The sudden death of Mr. 
Grenet, before title to the property was executed to the 
public, deprived the people of this benefaction. Mt. 
Grenet built wooden galleries around the two-story 
building, (which had been comparatively little damaged 
in 1836,) to represent the former arcaded galleries 
of stone, and erected towers, bristling with wooden 
cannon, and a battlemented top of wood over the old 
stone fortress building, and painted the words, *'The 
Alamo Building," on the west and south sides. He thus, 
as he said, restored the outer appearance of the main 
building of the Alamo (as closely as he could do at the 
time, and with the material used,) in an endeavor to 
keep fresh in the minds of the people of San Antonio 
and Texas the memory of the heroic deeds enacted 
therein. 

In 1886, after the death of Honore Grenet the Alamo 
property, which included the main building of the fort 
proper, was sold at public outcry by his administrator, 
George M. Kalteyer, to Hugo and Schmeltzer, a firm 
composed of Charles Hugo, Gustav Schmeltzer, and Wm 
Heuermaiin, for Twenty-eight Thousand Dollars. 

—45— 



"^' 




o 

Q 



—46— 



TESTIMONY OF MR. GUSTAY SCHMELTZER. 

In order to assist in keeping a complete and correct 
record of the several transactions relative to the pur- 
chase of that part of the old Alamo, (the main building 
of the Alamo) occupied by the firm of Hugo, Schmeltzer 
& Co., I wish to state that Miss Adina De Zavala called 
to see me about the year 1892, with reference to securing 
the Alamo property owned by us; explaining the ob- 
jects of the society of which she was President, and 
asked me to obtain for her the promise of all the owners, 
not to sell or offer the property to any one else without 
notifying her, and giving the Chapter the opportunity 
to acquire it, to save it to the people of Texas, to be 
utilized as a Hall of Fame and Museum of History, Art, 
Literature and Relics. 

This object meeting with my full approval, I spoke 
to the other parties in interest, and on her second visit, 
informed her, that we would do as she had asked, giving 
her the refusal of the property. Miss De Zavala called 
again at various times, to inquire if we remembered our 
promise, and we answered that we did, and were in no 
hurry to sell. In 1900, she called again and stated that 
the Chapter was about to start an active campaign for 
the purchas3 money, and asked us to set the price. On 
consultation with Mr. Hugo and the other owners, we 
agreed to contribute $10,000.00 and make the purchase 
price ( to her Chapter) $75,000.00. 

Miss De Zavala immediately went to Galveston and 
Houston in behalf of the cause, and shortly thereafter, 
the frightful disaster of the Galveston storm occurred; 
Miss De Zavala just missing by a few days being caught 
in Galveston. On account of the necessity of aiding the 
storm sufferers, the De Zavala Chapter again postponed 
its call for money for the purchase of the Alamo, and 
it was not until 1903, that the Chapter felt justified in 
bringing the matter before the public again. IMiss 
De Zavala then brought and introduced to me the 
Chairman selected by herself, and ratified by the vote 
of the Chapter to take charge of the collections for the 

—47— 



purchase, and to prosecute the work outlined by the 
Chapter. A written option was paid for and signed, 
and on February 10, 1904, the payment of the $25,000, 
was completed and the several notes arranging for the 
balance of the amount due, were duly made out and 
signed. 

(Signed.) G. SCHMELTZER. 

San Antonio, Texas, Setember 24, 1908. 

Affidavits as to signature of Mr. G. Schmeltzer were 
sworn to by Mr. Aug. Briam, Jr., who worked for the 
different companies of the Hugo, Schmeltzer people for 
25 years, and who was secretary of the corporation at 
the time of the agreement and sale of the Alamo prop- 
erty. By Mr. Charles Heuermann, son of one of the 
members of the firm, who was also employed in the 
business. 

By Mr. A. Sartor, a life-long friend of Mr. G. 
Schmeltzer. 

By Mr. W. A. Wurzbach, who was also employed by 
the firm and was acquainted with Mr. G. Schmeltzer 
for 30 years. 

By ^Ir. J. N. Brown, President of the Alamo National 
Bank, of San Antonio, Texas. 

All su])scribed and sworn to this 10th day of Feb- 
ruary, 1914. 

I, Wade H. Bliss, a Notary Public in and for Bexar 
County, Texas, do hereby certify that the foregoing is 
a true and correct copv of a statement dated September 
24, 1908, signed ''G. Schmeltzer," and of the affidavits 
attached thereto. 

Witness my hand and seal of office this 10th day of 
February, 1914. 

(Seal.) WADE H. BLISS, 

Notary Public, Bexar County, Texas. 

—48— 



De Zavala Chatper, descendants of the heroes and 
founders of Texas, pioneers in the work of conserving 
the history, relics, manuscripts, books, and historic 
places of Texas, conceived the idea of saving the main 
building of the Alamo Fortress and re-consecrating it 
to the memory of the heroes of the Alamo to be used as 
a Texas Hall of Fame and a Museum of History, Art, 
Relics and Literature, to be forever free for the use of 
Texans and all within the borders of Texas. 

An option was obtained on the property by Miss 
Adina De Zavala, President of the society as shown in 
the document by Mr. Gustav Schmeltzer, cited above. 
Later, payments were made, and notes signed, and work 
seriously undertaken to raise the purchase money. 

The raising of the money seemed sure, as all the 
people of Texas approached appeared enthusiastic and 
willing to contribute to save the building ; but as a 
certain fixed sum was necessary on certain dates to 
meet the payments, De Zavala Chapter decided to ask 
the Legislature to appropriate the money for the bal- 
ance due and offered on their part to give clear title to 
the property and the money already paid in, (about 
$20,000.00) and to take charge of the buildings and 
maintain them in good order and repair without cost 
to the State, and to repair and restore to its former 
beauty the old "long barrack" or Fortress building 
proper where the heroes died, on the condition that the 
old main building of the Alamo— ''the old barrack"— 
should be used as a Hall of Fame and a Museum of 
History, Relics, Art and Literature, and forever devoted 
to the memory of the heroes of Texas, and that the care 
and custody should remain with the Association, (De 
Zavala Chapter.) and that it should be repaired only 
under its direction. 

The President of De Zavala Chapter, Miss Adina De 
Zavala, wrote or dictated both memorial and bill pre- 
sented to the Legislature asking that the property be 
given into the custody of the Association. 

—49— 



The Twenty-Ninth Legislature accepted the terms, 
and granted the request of De Zavala Chapter, so unani- 
mously endorsed by the people of Texas and her sister 
chapters, and the property was eventually turned over 
to that society. 

At once, various parties, and a syndicate began their 
machinations to secure control of the Alamo in order to 
bring about the destruction of the Alamo proper, the 
main building of the Fort.* The idea was that if the 
Alamo Fort proper was out of the way, the park or 
Plaza would be extended back to property in which these 
people were interested, thus giving them an Alamo Plaza 
frontage. Long the battle waged — it was De Zavala 
Daughters versus Commercialism ! New combinations 
and new syndicates were formed from time to time, as 
new interests entered the contests to destroy the Alamo 
proper, pur-jhased by Texas and the De Zavala Daugh- 
ters in 1906, but, the latter firmly stood their ground. 
The methods used by the interests are almost unbe- 
lievable ! They finally created a division among the 
women of the general society and their friends. The 
breach has not been thoroughly healed to this day — but, 
the syndicates concerned are dead, and most of their pro- 
moters, and they did not accomplish their purpose! 
although, some of the same people effected the destruc- 
tion of the upper story of the ancient Alamo Fort, 
about 1913, leaving the lower story with its arcades un- 
roofed to the elements as we see it today. 

*The two-story stone buildinier, the main Imildinj: of the fortress 
referred to by Potter as the "long barrack." 



-50- 



THE MEN OF THE ALAMO. 



(By James Jeffrey Roche.) 
To Texans at Gonzales town ride, Ranger, for your life, 
Nor stop to say good-by to home, or friend, or child, 

or wife, 
But pass the word from ranch to ranch, to every Texan 

sword. 
That fifty hundred Mexicans have crossed Nueces ford, 
"With Castrillon and perjured Cos, Sesma, and Almonte 
And Santa Anna ravenous for vengeance and for prey. 
They smite the land with fire and sword; the grass 

shall never grow 
"Where northward sweeps that locust horde on San 

Antonio. 
Now who shall bar the foemen's path, to gain a breathing 

space ? 
'Til Houston and his scattered men shall meet them face 

to face ? 
Who holds his life as less than naught when home and 

honor call, 
And counts the guerdon full and fair for liberty to fall ? 
Oh, who but Barrett Travis, the bravest of them all ! 
With seven score of riflemen to play the ranchers' game 
And feed a counter fire to hold the sweeping prairie 

flame. 
For Bowie of the broken blade is there to cheer them on 
"With Evans of Concepcion, who conquered Castrillon, 
And 'er the heads the Texas flag defiant floats on high 
And no man thinks of yielding and no m&n fears to die. 

But ere the siege is held a week a cry is heard without, 
A clash of arms, a rifle peal, the Rangers' ringing shout. 
And two and thirty beardless boys have bravely hewn 

their way 
To die with Travis, if they must, to conquer if they may. 
Was ever bravery so cheap in glory's mart before 
In all the day's of chivalry, in all the deeds of war ? 
But once again the foemen gaze in wonderment and fear 

—51— 



To see a stranger break their lines and hear the Texans 

cheer. 
Oh, how they cheered to welcome him and those spent 

starving men 
For Davy Crockett by their side was worth an army 

then ! 
The wounded ones forgot their wounds ; the dying drew 

a breath 
To hail the king of border men, then turned to laugh 

at death. 
For all knew Davy Crockett, the generous and bold. 
And strong and rugged as the quartz that hides the heart 

of gold. 
His simple creed for word or deed true as the bullet sped 
And hit the target straight: ''Be sure you're right, 

then go ahead." 
And were they right who fought that fight for Texas 

by his side? 
They questioned not, they faltered not, they only fought 

and died. 
Who hath an enemy like these, in mercy slay him straight, 
A thousand IMexicans lay dead outside the convent gate 
And half a thousand more must die before the fortress 

falls 
And still the tide of war beats high around those 

'leaguered walls. 

At last the bloody breach was won; the weakened lines 

gave way. 
The wolves were swarming in the court; the lions stand 

at bay. 
The leader meets him in the breach and wins the soldier *s 

prize. 
A foeman's bosom sheathes his sword when gallant 
Travis dies. 

Now let the victor feast at will until his crest be red, 
We may not know what rapture fills the vulture with 

the dead. 
Let Santa Anna's valiant sword right bravely hew and 

hack 

—52— 



The senseless corse; its hands are cold; they will not 

strike him back. 
Let Bowie die, but 'ware the hand that wields his deadly 

knife. 
Four went to slay and one came back, so dear he sold 

his life. 
And last of all did Crockett fall, too proud to sue for 

grace, 
So grand in death the butcher dared not look upon his 

dauntless face. 

But far on San Jacinto's field the Texan toils are set 
And Alamo's dread memory the Texan steel shall whet. 
And fame shall tell their deeds — who fell, till all the 

years are run, 
Thermopylae left one alive — the Alamo left none. 




Showing How Mission Courtyard or Patio looked. 
—53— 



Legends of the Alamo 



GHOSTS OF THE AI^AMO. 

There's the tramp of a ghost on the low winds tonight, 

And echo that drifts like a dream on its way; 
There's the blur of the specter that leaves for the fight, 

Grave-risen at last from a long vanished day; 
There's the shout and the call of grim soul unto soul 

As they rise one by one, out of death's shadowed glen 
To follow the bugle — the drum's muffled roll. 

Where the Ghosts of the Alamo gather again. 

I hear Crockett's voice as he leaps from the dust 

And waits at the call for an answering hail; 
And Bowie caresses a blade red with rust 

As deep in the shadows he turns to the trail ; 
Still lost in the darkness that covers their sleep 

Their bodies may rest in a sand-mounded den, 
But their spirits have come from the red, starry steep 

Where Ghosts of the Alamo gather again. 

You think they've forgotten — because they have slept — ■ 

The day Santa Anna charged in with his slaves; 
Where five thousand men 'gainst a few hundred swept 

And stormed the last rampart that stood for their 
graves 1 
You think they've forgotten; but faint, from afar, 

Brave Travis is calling the roll of his men 
And a voice answers ' ' Here ! ' ' Through the shadows 
that bar 

Where Ghosts of the Alamo gather again. 

There's a flash on a blade — and you thought it a star? 
There's a light on tlie plain — and you thought it the 
moon ? 
You thought the wind echoed that anthem of war? 

—54— 



Not knowing the lilt of an old border tune ; 
Gray shade after shade, stirred again unto breath; 

Gray phantom by phantom they charge down the glen, 
Where souls hold a hate that is greater than death^ 

Where Ghosts of the Alamo gather again. 

— Grantland Rice, in New York Tribune. 



THE GHOSTS OF THE ALAMO. 

It is a well known fact that the papers of San 
Antonio, years ago, from time to time, chronicled mar- 
velous tales of ghosts appearing at the Alamo. That 
the Alamo was guarded by ghosts was one of the current 
folk-tales of the country. When General Andrade, the 
Mexican general sought to destroy the Alamo, after the 
battle of San Jacinto, in 1836, it is said that his men 
were everywhere met by spirits with flaming swords 
who barred their progress and soon frightened them off ; 
that almost as fast as new relays of men were sent with 
orders to destroy the walls, they were overcome by 
fright; nor could threats or punishment induce them to 
return. They were permitted by the ghosts for a space 
to disarm the batteries, but the moment the walls of the 
buildings were threatened, there was the flaming sword 
in ghostly hands. It is a matter of history that the 
Alamo buildings were not destroyed, and not much 
injured by Andrade.* The Alamo was dismantled of its 
works, guns, etc., "the fosse filled up, and the pickets 
torn up and burned," but only the single outer walls 
of the mission-square were injured. The reason it was 
not destroyed^ say the current tales of the day, was 
because of fear, of the threats and prophecy of "the 
spirits with the flaming swords" whom the Mexican 
soldiers feared more than they feared their officers. 

♦See the comprehensive History of Texas, Dr. Bernard, Kendall, 
Potter and other historians. 



These spirits ordered them to desist in hollow tones 
which struck terror to their hearts, "Depart, touch not 
these walls! He who desecrates these walls shall meet 
a horrible Fate! Multiplied afflictions shall seize upon 
him and a horrible and agonizing and avenging torture 
shall be his death I" 

Was this prophecy fulfilled? Those who know the 
old folk-tale say, ' ' It was, and will ever be : " And among 
other things you will hear if you doubt, is: "Search 
into the miserable lives and deaths of those responsible 
for the tearing down of part of the Alamo!" and, "Is 
it not, at least, a strange coincidence that the man who, 
more than any other one person, was deliberately 
responsible for the destruction of the upper story of the 
old Alamo Fortress met such a horrible, agonizing fate? 
— entombed alive and consumed by flames — that his 
worst enemy could not fail to be moved with pity." 



LEGEND OF THE STATUE OF SAINT ANTHONY 
AT THE CHURCH OF THE ALAMO. 

Saint Anthony of Padua was patron of the Church 
and Mission of San Antonio de Valero. A statue of 
Saint Anthony occupied one of the niches in front of 
the Church which is now known as the CHURCH OF 
THE ALAMO. 

At some time in the past it was decided to dismantle 
the old ruined Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, 
which had been a ruin since about 1762, when its two 
towers, dome and arched roof had tumbled in; for 
though several attempts had been made to repair and 
rebuild it, it had never been done. Accordingly, a man 
was sent with orders to bring away the statuary orna- 
menting the front niches. The statue of Santo Domingo 
in the lower left niche, was removed and the man at- 
tempted to take down the statue of Saint Anthony. He 
could not move it. He reported his lack of success and 
another man was sent to help him, but their combined 

—56— 



efforts failed. Thinking that the stone of which the 
statue was carved was unusually solid and heavy, — ^more 
men were sent, — until five men — try as they might still 
failed to dislodge the statue. At different times during 
the course of the succeeding years efforts were made to 
remove the statue by different parties who boasted of 
their ability, but they all failed. 

And the old people chatted ; and finally the story grew 
that "Saint Anthony held his statue there, because he 
wished his church to be repaired and placed again at 
the service of the people he loved, whose mission and 
town had been given his name, and whom he was still 
anxious to serve ! " ' ' This is perfectly plain, ' ' said 
they, ''because there was no difficulty experienced in 
lifting out the other statues, only with his!" 

However that may be, people of a later date saw the 
statue still filling its niche. It was there in 1837, and al- 
most to modern times. When the German Catholic Con- 
gregation of San Antonio desired a Church building, the 
Bishop of the diocese, in 1865, requested Major-General 
Merritt to vacate the Church of the Alamo that he might 
present it to them for their use. The government, 
having no building which they could substitute for the 
storage of grains, replied that its vacation would be 
attended with great inconvenience and serious loss, and 
declined to do so, and the Catholics not wishing to make 
trouble or delay their own work, chose a place elsewhere. 
When St. Joseph's Catholic Church was built, but a 
sliort distance from the Church of the Alamo, all idea 
of the use of the Alamo Church for religious purposes 
was abandoned, and the statue of St. Anthony gave no 
more trouble, and was easily removed* 

Tlie Church of the Alamo was sold to the State of 
Texas in 1883. 

♦Every legend related to the writer was told with a smile, a shrug, 
and a shake of the head, and a. "I do not know, that is what they 
say," a.«! if the narrator was afraid the listener might believe it to be 
an actual experience within the knowledge of the speaker. 



-57- 



THE FOLK OF THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGES. 

In the eoachanted; city to which the underground 
passages of the missions have connection, are many in- 
habitants ; and now and then, it seems, they may, and 
do appear in this workaday world of ours — if the folk- 
tellers are right. Some of the legends clustering around 
these interesting people follow: 

The Padre ^s Gift. 

The old inhabitants of San Antonio de Bexar were 
very particular to train their children in habits of cour- 
tesy to all — to the stranger as well as to their fellow- 
citizens — but particular stress was laid upon courtesy to 
the aged. They told tales of "angels' visits unawares," 
and of "noblemen in disguise," and cautioned them, 
"Never judge a man by the coat he wears," and such 
other injunctions, till the children, properly trained by 
example and precept, were noted for their beautiful and 
gentle courtesy to strangers and to the aged. One tale 
which particularly held the attention of all children, 
aroused their imagination and peculiarly fascinated 
them, was the tale of the Padre's Gift. 

"Now children, some day you may meet the Padre, 
he is very old and wears his long mantle. If you 
meet him and are courteous, you w411 surely receive a 
gift. He never goes empty armed, and all he meets are 
dowered. ' ' 

When questioned about the truth of the tale the old 
folk-tellers answered : ' ' Yes, they say, the Padre really 
makes visits, but when he will come, no one knows, 
although it is said that there have been many children 
who have received the Gifti They say that Senora G.'s 
mother received a most wonderful gift — though they 
never say much about it, we believe it is true." Or, "I 
am told that little Jose C.'s father, was presented with 
the deed to property that the family had long lost, when 
he was a boy." Or, "After the Indians stole all the 

—58— 




cattle from the F. family they say that the little boy, 
Francisco, one day met the Padre and returned home 
with a bag of doubloons." 

It is needless to say that the children were always on 
the look out for the Padre, and the writer has known 
some who have asserted that they had really met the 
Padre f.nd received a gift. The Padre is one of the good 
people who have power, it seems, to pass from the en- 
chanted city of Tejas by way of the underground pas- 
sages of the Alamo. In the light of the past's strange 
coincidences the narrator often wonders if she, too, 
has not received tlie Padre's Gift, though at that time 
she had never heard of the Padre. 

''Riding out one morning I stopped at the "Little 
Drunk Spring,"* and there, with staff in hand, covered 
])y a long brown cloak, stood a very old man with a 

* *The "Little Dnnik Spring" is about eleven miles northwest 
of San Antonio. 

—59— 



wonderfully fine face. '' Buenos dias," said I." 
"Buenos dias," responded the old gentleman with a 
courteous salute. ' ' Have you come far ? " I asked. ' ' No, 
senorita, just across the Leon." "Oh, from the Coy 
settlement!" I responded, for I knew the places round 
about. "Si, senorita, and below. I have brought some- 
thing to leave in your care," said he. "Leave in my 
care! What is it? How do you know me?" I asked. 
''We all know you," he responded. "The gift is to be 
left in your care for your use, for life, on one condition ; 
that you name your successor and exact the same promise 
I shall exact of you; namely, that no other hand shall 
touch this package while you live." Reaching down 
into a large olla by his side, which I had not hitherto 
noticed, he pulled out a packet carefully tied up in oil 
skins. Unwrapping it he showed me a thick book which 
appeared to be made of parchment and filled with 
writing. I looked into it and saw that it was written 
in the Spanish language. "May I have some one trans- 
late it for me?" I asked, "I am sure it is wonderful, but 
it appears well nigh undecipherable with age, and be- 
sides, you see, I do not know the Spanish language 
well." "No, use what you can, and pass it on. Promise 
that no hand but yours shall touch this gift until it is 
bequeathed by you as I now bequeath it to you." 1 
promised, delighted to receive such old and precious 
treasures, and the good old man, not only gave me the 
packet, which he carefully rewrapped and replaced in 
the olla, but, much to my surprise, lifted the olla with 
all its well filled contents up to the saddle in front of 
me, saying, "It is all yours." Bidding me God speed, 
he cautioned me to be careful not to fall, and delightedly 
I started home. I have always regretted that I did not 
ask the old man's name — but I thought, then, only of 
the precious old treasures and my wonderful good for- 
tune in receiving them. Truth is stranger than fiction." 
Has she received the Padre's gift? She does not know, 
but often wonders if she, too, had not really met the 
Padre. 

—60— 



THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN IN BLUE AND HER 

GIFT TO SAN ANTONIO BY THE HANDS OF 

ONE WOMAN IN EVERY GENERATION. 

Out of the underground passages of the Alamo she 
comes once in a generation, or, when her gift has lapsed 
—this Mysterious Woman in Blue. Her Gift is not to 
the first person she happens to meet— but she searches 
until she finds a worthy recipient. And, strange to tell, 
tradition says, she always selects a native Texan of the 
same type of woman, tall, eyes of gray— changeable with 
her moods, dark, fine hair— not black. In character the 
woman is superior, pure and good, well-bred, intelligent, 
spiritual and patriotic. She may be young or old or 
middle-aged. Stranger yet, the woman to whom the 
Gift is given does not always know that she possesses 
the Gift of the Woman in Blue, though she is always 
ready to use her talents for the good of others. 

What is the Gift? The gift of seeing to the heart of 
things! She sees with the clear-eyed vision of ^Josn 
of Arc all that may vitally affect, for good or ill the 
people of her city and State whom she ardently loves 
with a strange devotion. All the children are her 
children— all the people are to her friends, and brothers 
and sisters! There is no cant, and no pretense— it is 
real. 

She is here now— the Woman with the Gift for San 
Antonio, and oh, how we need her! She will help you 
and she will help me, if we find her! Who is she? 

Tradition savs she is always busy on the side of right, 
humanity, truth, iustice and patriotism,— that you can- 
not keep her hidden or covered— try as you might— not 
in the whole citv full— because she has the Gift, hhe 
is a Mascot to those who help on her work and the 
-Devil's Own Luck" to those who hinder. Find her 
if you are wise, search until you do. Who is she ?. fehe 
mav be known by her works, perhaps, though the fme^t 
of that is in secret. If you are clear-eyed, she will be 

—61— 



made manifest. Or another eiue may be obtained from 
those who have tried to frustrate her work. They know 
who she is from the ill-luck which has followed 
them! If you need to see straight, and deep, find her. 
Do you need counsel and guidance, trust to her. Tra- 
dition further says that she is always ready to help the 
rich, the poor, the artist, the artisan, the Avriter, the 
children — the whole people of her beloved Texas land. 
She has the Gift and therefore cannot choose but usy 
it for San Antonio. Do you know her? If you do not 
profit by the Gift the fault is yours, not that of the 
Mysterious Woman in Blue, nor of the Woman who 
holds the precious Gift as Almoner for San Antonio. 



THE COURTEOUS AND KINDLY CHILD AND THE 

"GOOD PEOPLE" OF THE UNDERGROUND 

PASSAGEWAY. 

The Alamo has always been credited with being the 
abode of ghosts — and some of them marvelous ghosts. 
Every one knows the storv^ of the ghosts with the 
flaming swords who are forever stationed to protect the 
Alamo fortress. This old Fort also boasts of a number 
of ghosts who have a predeliction for stormy weather 
and who do not confine their sphere of action to any 
special apartment but who manifest themselves in all 
parts of the Fort. At the time that part of the Fort 
was used as a prison for detention of city prisoners — 
many of the inmates — prisoners and officers alike, bore 
testimony to the strange and unaccountable noises — the 
rattling of chains, the distinct military tread of ghostly 
sentinels, the clank of sword and spur being heard, es- 
pecially on rainy or stormy nights. Other singular and 
fascinating tales refer to the '^good people" who are 
believed to inhabit the vast underground passage-ways 
leading from the old fortress and connecting with all 
the other missions of the San Antonio valley, and the 

—62— 



Ancient Government Palace. One of the more modern 
of these tales follows: 

A beautiful and cultivated gentlewoman lived on the 
east side of the San Antonio River in a strongly built 
rock house. Everything in the place betokened refine- 
ment and culture. One afternoon she sat alone sewing; 
looking up from her sewing, she sighed, as gazing tow^ard 
the town she watched the slow and painful progress of 
her husband on his return from a trip for the mail. He 
had been injured in one of the early Indian fights and 
had been incapacitated ever since. He was up and 
down continually, but never seemingly making any 
headway toward health, and this had continued for 
seven years — soon after the first anniversary of his little 
girl 's birth. There was almost no way for women to make 
money in those days and speculation as to the future 
caused the brave little woman much anxiety. When he 
came in she said, "0 Joseph, I was just praying that 
some time Ursula might meet the good woman of the 
underground passage ! There might still be hope for 
you! Ursula is so kind, and gentle and loving that 
she could not fail to win the good will of these good 
people. I am living- in that hope. You know the good 
fortune that befell Mrs. Ramon's little Mary!" ''Dear 
Ann, I know the good fortune that befell Mary and her 
mother, but you know I do not believe in any ''under- 
ground people" or 'the good woman of the underground 
passage !' I still think that some friend chose this method 
— of helping them. I am really surprised that you re- 
peat the old-folk tales current here about — but I think, 
dear, that in your case the wish is father to the desire 
to believe, for your heart is set on my visiting the cel- 
ebrated Doctor ." The couple then became 

engrossed in the bundle of mail which had arrived and 
some business matters were discussed at length. It was 
quite late before they thought of the time, and the con- 
tinued absence of little Ursula, who had gone over to the 
old Alamo Fort to play with some of her little friends 
and pick wild flowers in the fields. The mother de- 

—63— 



cided to go to look for the children who should have 
been at home long before. As she neared the Alamo 
Fort, and all was still, she became nervous, for in those 
days there was still the possibility of Indian raids. She 
passed around the Fort and called, but everything was 
quiet ; there were no children to be found anywhere. 
Much alarmed she visited the nearest house and the 
people said that the children had returned to the town 
long ago. Not wishing needlessly to distress her hus- 
band she went around the place and on into San An- 
tonio to the homes of some of the children, hoping, but 
not believing that her child had followed one of her 
friends to her home. But none of them had seen her 
since they had separated to pluck the wild flowers, or, 
play hide-and-seek. They thought it strange that she 
had gone home without telling them ; however, they had 
reconciled it to themselves by saying that she may have 
gone too far, and become tired. 

The mother, now almost frantic, called upon the men 
to take up the search while she went back home to try 
if possible to divert her husband who was powerless to 
render aid. 

All thought of Indians, and the men started out to 
examine the vicinity of the Alamo, where the children 
had been at play, for signs of them, but no trace of 
Indians could be found. A number carried lanterns, 
and it occurred to some to examine the ruins, thinking 
that it may have been possible for her to have fallen 
among the rocks from the house tops in such a way, as 
to render her unconscious. They had about abandoned 
all hope when some of them entered the arched room 
fronting the baluarte on the south side of the court- 
yard, adjoining the Church. They were about to leave 
when they caught a gleam of something white in the 
shadow — and there was little Ursula fast asleep with 
her lap full of wild flowers. These she carefullv gathered 
up, when the happy women in the party kissed her 
awake, and she was soon restored to the arms of her 
distracted parents. 

—64— 



When questioned, Ursula explained that the children 
were playing "hide-and-seek" and while she was hiding, 
a dear old lady who had entered the Alamo, caught her 
dress on a thorn bush and had fallen down. Ursula had 
helped her up, and given her some of her flowers; after 
she had rested, Ursula had carried her bundles and as- 
sisted her out of the Alamo. Just then, she saw the 
children dart about, and thinking they were looking for 
her, she dashed back to her hiding place. She did not 
kjiiow how she came to fall asleep. The old lady gave 
her something small wrapped up, and motioned her to 
put it in her pocket, and there it was in her pocket. 
With surpressed excitement, the mother held out her 
hand for the package, it suddenly flashed upon her that 
her little girl had really met the ''gyod woman" of the 
underground way. In the package were several very old 
Spanish gold coins, two diamonds and three pearls. 
Without doubt she had met the "good woman of the 
underground passage," and her first thought was that 
now, Joseph, her husband, could go to consult and 
secure the services of the eminent specialist so long 
looked forward to. She fell on her knees in thanks- 
givin, and then, pulling the child to her side, covered 
her with kisses. 



LEGEND OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS AT 
"THE ALAMO." 



The Margil Vine. 

At the first Christmas season celebrated at Mission 
San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo), in 1718, the good 
Padres made the Crib of Bethlehem as realistic as pos- 
sible, and the Indian children and neophytes were taking 
part in adorning the crib and bringing gifts to the 
Christ-Child. 

Some brought beads and hung them where the lights 
would make them glisten; others, pretty colored stones 

—65— 




Little Shavano. 



or pebbles, other bits of bright 
Indian blankets — everything 
and anj^thing that to the 
crude Indian mind seemed 
beautiful. And the padres 
did not chide them, for their 
intention was to honor the 
Christ-Child. _One afternoon 
as the Venerable Anthony 
]\Iargil was re-entering the 
Mission from a visit to a sick 
Indian not far away, he came 
upon a wee Indian boy sob- 
bing. "What has made you 
sorrowful, little Shavano, at 
this happy time of the com- 
ing visit of the little Christ- 
Child ?" "That is the very 
trouble," answered little 
Shavano, "all the rest have a gift for Him, and I can 
find nothing. " "0, never mind that, little Shavano, the 
CJirist sees into your heart and mind; you wish to love, 
obey and serve Him, do you not?" "Indeed I do!" 
replied the boy. ' ' Give Him then your heart and service ; 
tell Him this, and that will be the grandest gift." But 
little Shavano would not be satisfied, he sought the 
•tangible gift ; and the good Padre, touched by his grief, 
and sj^mpathizing with his aspirations, said to him: 
"Bring a Avide-mouthed olla, Shavano, and I shall help 
you find a gift." The wee Indian lad did as he was bid, 
and not far outside the Mission gate, on the acequia, 
was found a vine with triform green leaves and dark 
green berries. "We will take this to the little Christ- 
Child," said the Venerable Anthony Margil. "It is not 
very pretty," said little Shavano. "Never mind, it 
will be pretty to the Christ-Child; He will make it 
pretty," replied the Padre. And so consoled, little 
Shavano helped to dig the vine and planted it in the 
olla. They carried it to the crib, and setting the olla 



—66— 



on one side, twined and festooned the vine over the front 
of the crib. Little Shavano decided that it was better 
than nothing, and asked the Christ-Child to be satisfied 
with the best he could do, and promised to do all in 
his power during the coming year to serve Him faith- 
fully. The next morning as he renewed his promises to 
the Christ-Child, he was gazing on the vine wishing that 
his gift had been pretty like some of the others^ when 
lo! the dark leaves began to glisten, and the green 
berries turned to a beautiful scarlet, and festooned as 
they were about the front of the crib, delighted the boy 
beyond measure. He ran for the Padre excitedly ex- 
claiming, ''The Christ-Child did make my gift beauti- 
ful ! Come and see it ! ' ' 




Indian Boys at School, under the arcades of the Alamo Patio. 



The Venerable Anthony IMargil, who was in one sense 
only a visitor at this mission, took the happy little 
Indian boy by the hand, and together they joined the 
procession just then winding through the arcaded gal- 
leries surrounding the patio, leading to the chapel, and 
which followed acolytes with lighted candles. The joyous 
paean of the Adeste Fideles was borne upward as they 

—67— 



moved forward, and these two, the venerable, noted 
and learned man and the wee Indian boy, with grateful 
hearts united their voices with the chorus of praise 
chanting : 

''With hearts truly grateful, 
Come all ye faithful, 
To Jesus, to Jesus, in Bethlehem. 
See Christ your Saviour, 
Heaven's greatest favor, 
Let's hasten to adore Him; 
Let's hasten to adore Him; 
Let's hasten to adore Him, 
Our Lord and King. 

The Splendor Immortal, 
Son of God Eternal; 

Concealed in mortal flesh our eyes shall view. 
See there the Infant 
The swaddling clothes enfold Him. 
Let's hasten, etc. 

Angels now praise Him, 
Loud their voices raising. 
The heavenly mansions with joy now ring. 
Praise, honor, glory, 
To Him who is most holy. 
Let's hasten, etc. 

To Jesus, born this clay. 
Grateful homage repay; 
To Him who all heavenly gifts doth bring, 
Word uncreated. 
To our flesh united. 
Let's hasten, etc. 

This vine is still of spontaneous growth around San 
Antonio and is called by those of the old days the 
"Margil Vine." From that early time its bright red 
berries come to do honor to the season of the Christ- 
Child. 

—68— 



Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, 

(Be los Neches) and {De la Espada) 



Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was founded in 
east Texas, in May, 1690, by Father Damien Manzanet, 
many hundreds of miles from any other Spanish set- 
tlement, and about six miles west of the Neches River 
on El Camino Real. It was near a stream referred to 
in the old diaries as the San Pedro, which joins the 
Neches not far from the village of the Nabedache Indians. 

The story of the foundation is of interest to those 
who appreciate great and wonderful courage and noble 
motives. 

The old settlements of Ysleta and others, did not 
attract much notice from the authorities as they were 
not in the direction of the coast where the government's 
attention was directed by the activities of Penalosa, nor 
toward the famed but elusive kingdoms of Quivira 
and Tagago. 

In 1630, Father Benavides had suggested in his 
MIemoria, that a direct line to Santa Fe should be opened 
through the Bay of Espiritu Santo — a landmark which 
since the expedition of Pineda, in 1519, had been prom- 
inent on all the maps of the Gulf coast. The king in a 
royal cedula, issued December 10, 1678, informed the 
viceroy that it had been learned that Penalosa, the dis- 
gruntled ex-governor of New Mexico was attempting 
to secure for the French government a patent for the 
exploration of the province of Quivira and Tagago and 
that in the efforts made by the Spanish Court to learn 
about these kingdoms, the report of Father Benavides 
and his suggestions, in 1630, were recalled. The king 
ordered the A^iceroy to investigate and give his opinion 
as to whether it would be well to open un communication 

—69— 



with New Mexico by way of the Bay of Espititu Santo 
according to Benavides' suggestion. 

Though numerous raids on the Florida coast by 
French corsairs called attention to the necessity of oc- 
cupying the country, as late as August 2, 1685, the re- 
quired report had not yet been received by the king and 
he issued another cedula, quoting the former one ver- 
batim, and repeating his request for a report on the 
advisability of converting the kingdoms of Quivira and 
opening communication with them by way of the Bay 
of Espiritu Santo. 

The victory now hastened to carry out the royal or- 
ders. Two land expeditions were sent out to find the 
Bay of Espiritu Santo and were unsuccessful and a third 
(unless the one to bring in the Frenchman located by 
Father Manzanet is eounted as the third,) left Coahuila 
March 26, 1689, under Captain Alonzo de Leon, accom- 
panied by Father Manzanet. The latter had become in- 
terested in the Indians in the far interior through a let- 
ter in his possession treating of facts made known by the 
Venerable Mary Coronel de Agreda, as to certain tribes, 
and of her entreaties that missionaries be sent to find and 
bring them to God. It was the pleading of Mary Coro- 
nel de Agreda* that had moved Manzanet to search for 
the French and try to convince the authorities of their 
presence in Texas and so induce a third expedition that 
he might accompay it and the sooner reach the Tejas 
Indians. 

On this expedition the Bay of Espiritu Santo was 
discovered, the Fort built by the French under La Salle 
was found, and the Chief of the Tejas Indians was in- 
terviewed by Manzanet and promised missionaries. The 
report made to the viceroy as to the beauty, fertility 
and desirability of the country was such that it was de- 
termined to occupy it and assist the Franciscans in their 
educational and religious work among the wild tribes. 

The viceroy soon decided on a second expedition to 

♦See Mary Coronel of Agreda, this book. 
—70— 



the Bay of Esp^ritu Santo, and that Captain Alonzo de 
Leon should go as commander, taking one hundred and 
ten soldiers, one hundred and fifty long guns, twelve 
hundred weight of powder, and three hundred weight of 
shot. He likewise provided for the founding of a mis- 
sion among the Tejas Indians and for the escort thither 
of Damian Manzanet and three other priests and a lay- 
brother. This expedition left Coahuila for the Tejas 
"on the third day of the Easter feast, March 28, 1690." 
They reconnoitered the coast country, saw no trace of 
French thereabout, set fire to La Salle's Fort and after 
remaining six days in the coast country, set out for the 
Tejas villages, sending ahead a messenger to the gov- 
ernor of the Tejas. 

De Leon found in the neighboring Indian rancherias 
two French boys. The Spanish pushing forward, came 
quite unexpectedly upon the governor of the Tejas and 
about fifteen of his people who had come out with the 
messenger sent to them. As soon as the governor saw 
Manzanet, he recognized him and going up embraced 
him. They sat down and talked by signs for some time, 
and the governor produced a small sack of powdered 
tobacco, of the kind they grew, and another small sack 
of white pinole* of good quality. 

Three days later, Monday, May 22, 1690, they entered 
the Tejas village. It was raining heavily on their ar- 
rival. That year it had rained but little, and the corn 
was suffering from the drought, but every day of the 
eleven they spent in the village it rained hard. 

On the next day the governor expressed a desire to 
take the priests home with him and told them that they 
might live in his house. On visiting the governor they 
formed a procession with the escort of soldiers through 
the villages, the four priests went on foot, carrying 
their staffs which bore a crucifix, "singing the Litany 
of Our Lady, and accompanied by a lay-brother who 
bore an improvised banner of the Blessed Virgin." On 

*PInole is parched corn, ground or crushed. It is also used to 
prepare drinks. 

—71— 



reaching the governor's house, he invited them to enter, 
and look at it. 

It was a round structure built of stakes thatched over 
with grass and about twenty varas high. It had no 
windows, daylight entering through the door only. In 
the middle of the house was the fire which was never 
extinguished by day or by night, and over the door on 
the inner side was a little superstructure of rafters very 
prettily arranged. Ranged around one-half of the 
house, inside, were ten beds; these beds consisted of a 
rug made of reeds, laid on four Jorked sticks. Over 
the rug the Indians spread buffalo skins on which they 
slept. At the head and foot of the bed was attached 
another carpet forming a sort of arch, which, lined with 
a very brilliantly colored piece of reed matting made 
what bore some resemblance to a very pretty alcove. 
In the other half of the house where there were no beds, 
there were some shelves about two varas high,, and on 
them were ranged large round baskets made of reeds, 
in which they kept their corn, nuts, acorns, beans, etc. 
There was also a row of very large earthen pots like 
the Mexican water jars, these pots being used only to 
make the atole* when there was a large crowd on the 
occasion of some ceremony; with the pots were six 
wooden mortars for pounding the corn in rainy weather, 
(in fair weather it was ground in the courtyard). 
After examining the governor's house they were seated 
outside in the patio and served with a lunch consisting 
of tamales with nuts, pinole, very well prepared, and 
corn cooked with frijoles, and ground nuts. Father 
Manzanet* says: ''Soon I noticed outside the patio, 
opposite the door of the governor's house, another long 
building in which no inmates could be seen. I asked 
who dwelt therein, or what purpose it served, and was 
told that the captains were lodged in that house when 

*A kind of gruel, made by cooking pounded maize or rice in water. 

•The quotations from Manzanet are taken from a "Letter of Fray 
Damian Manzanet to Don Carlos de Siguenza." 1690, puldished by 
the Texas State Historical Association, in Quarterly, Vol. II. 254- 
312. The original manuscript is the property of the Agricultural 
and Mechanical College of Texas. 

—72— 



the governor called them to a meeting. On the other 
side I saw yet another and smaller vacant house, and 
upon my inquiring about this one they answered that in 
the smaller house the pages of the captains were lodged, 
for there is a law providing that each captain shall 
bring his page when the governor assembles the captains, 
and they observe this custom. As soon as they arrive 
they are lodged in that house, and for each one is laid 
a large brightly colored reed mat, on which they sleep, 
with a bolster made of painted reeds at the head; and 
when they return home, each page carries with him 
his mat and pillow. While they attend the meeting thie 
governor provides them with food, until he sends them 
home. 

''The, following are the domestic arrangements in the 
governor's house: each week ten Indian women under- 
take the house-work; each day at sunrise these women 
come laden with firewood, sweep out the courtyard and 
the house, carry water from a brook at some distance — 
"(for this water is very good, and though the river is 
close by, its water is not as good as that of the brook) — 
and grind corn for the atole, tamales and pinole. Each 
one of the women goes home for the night, returning to 
the governor's house next morning. 

''As to whether the priests should live in the gover- 
nor's house, using the French- 
man as an interpreter, I told the governor, with many 
kind expressions, that his house was very fine, and that 
I heartily appreciated his desire to have the priests in 
his household, but that since we had to build a house for 
the celebration of mass, it might be well to build like- 
wise a dwelling for the priests, because they must needs 
live near the church. Thereupon the governor said that 
we could build the house I asked for in the most suit- 
able place, that he would show us the village and that 

I might choose the spot Accordingly 

next day we went with the governor, who took us to the 
place the French had selected for ftheir (Settlement, 
pleasantly and favorably situated on the river banks. 

—73— 



We did not locate the convent there because it was so far 

out of the way of the Indians 

**The next morning I went out with Capt. Alonso de 
Leon a little way, and found a delightful spot close to 
the brook, fine woods, with plum trees like those in 
Spain. And soon afterwards, on the same day, they be- 
gan to feel trees and cart the wood, and within three days 
we had a roomy dwelling and a church wherein to say 
mass. Very reverently we set in front of the church 
a very high cross of carved wood. 

''On the feast of Corpus Christi mass was sung, and 
before mass we had a procession with the blessed sacra- 
ment exposed, a large concourse of Indians being as- 
sembled, for we had notified them the day before. The 
soldiers had been given leave to fire as many salutes 
as they could during the procession, at the elevation, 
and at the close of mass, and it was the will of the 
Divine Mlajesty that in that solitude we should celebrate 
a memorable feast, which was rendered a source of' 
great consolation by our being able to carry the blessed 
sacrament exposed and to walk in procession as Chris- 
tian Catholics are wont to do. After mass we hoisted 
in the name of His Majesty the royal standard bearing 
one one side the picture of Christ crucified, and on the 
other that of the Virgin of Guadalupe. A royal salute 
was fired, and we sang the Te Deum Laudamus in 
thanksgiving. 

"These Tejas Indians have always had among them 
an old Indian who was their minister, and presented 
their offerings to God. They observed the custom 
never to taste any eatable without first taking a portion 
of it to their minister for sacrifice; they did this with 
the produce of their lands — as corn, beans, watermelons, 
and squashes-^as well as Avith the buffalo meat they ob- 
tained by hunting. Their minister had a house reserved 
for the sacrifices, and when they entered therein they 
behaved very reverentially, particularly during a sacri- 
fice. They never sacrificed to idols, but only to Him 

—74— 



of whom they said He has all power and that from Him 
come all things, which is re(?ognizing a first cause. 

''The captains as well as the governor himself, all 
treat this minister with much consideration, and in order 
to induce him to visit us, as well as to avoid hurting 
his feelings, the governor sent out the captains with 
orders to do honor to the Indian priest and bring him 
with them. They went, and during three days and 
nights they entertained him with songs and dances, as 
is their custom, and when they returned home, he ac- 
companied them. They arrived at noon, just as we 
were about to have dinner. Since I was eager to see 
the ceremonies of these people, I suggested that we should 
wait for that priest of theirs and ask him to eat at our 
table. He came advancing slowly, and bearing himself 
with much dignity, and with him was a crowd of In- 
dians, men, women, and children. He apeared extremely 
serious and reserved, and as soon as he reached the 
place where we were, the governor bade him kiss our 
robe. This he did, and when we sat down to dinner 
I asked the governor to let our visitor sit by my side. 

''When this Indian priest took his first mouthful, 
instead of asking a blessing, he made with the food, as 
he took it out of the dish, a sign like that of the cross, 
pointing, as it were, to the four winds, or cardinal 
points. After dinner we gave him clothing for himself 
and wife, and he was quite pleased. 

"Later we were told by an Indian who was then with 
the Tejas but came from the country beyond — from 
Coahuila — and who spoke Mexican, that the above men- 
tioned priest of the Tejas had told all the captains and 
other Tejas: "Now you will no longer heed me, for 
these priests who have come to you are the true priests 
of Ayimat Caddi" — which last name signifies, in their 
language, "The Great Captain." This was the name he 
gave to God, for since the only rank or title they know 
is that of captain, they call "Great Captain" him whom 
they consider as great above all things. Similarly, in 

—75— 



order to give the governor a distinguishing name they 
call him "dezza," which means "Great Lord and Su- 
perior to all." 

''When the church and the dwelling intended for the 
priests had been finished, the soldiers carried into these 
buildings all that was to be left for the priests, and on 
the morning of the first of June, a week from the feast 
of Corpus Christi, we consecrated the church and cele- 
brated mass, after which the Te Deum Laudamus was 
sung in thanksgiving, the soldiers firing a royal salute. 
The church and village were dedicated to our Holy 
Father, St. Francis. 

' ' After dinner on that same day our company left the 
place, to return hither, but I remained until the next 
day, when I went to join the others on the way. The 
night before I left the place I called on the governor, 
bidding him remember that he must take care of the 
fathers who remained there and try to cause his people 
to respect them and to receive the Christian doctrine. 
I told him the fathers would not take anything from 
them, nor ask them for anything, but rather help them 
whenever they were able. And the governor said: "I 
shall take care of the fathers, so that, when you return, 
they will have no complaint to bring against me; they 
are perfectly safe, and may remain." I then told him 
that I should be gratified if his brother and some other 
one of his relatives would come with me to visit our 
possessions and bring back numerous presents for those 
who remained at home, and that our great Captain the 
Viceroy was anxious to see them, and entertained very 
kindly feelings towards them. The governor then re- 
plied that his brother with two other relatives and a 
nephew of his would accompany me, and he thus ad- 
monished me; — ''Do not permit any one to demand 
service from these men whom you take with you, nor 
to make them work." From these words of his it is 
evident that they have among them the idea of rank, 
and that they distinguish their nobles from the mass 
of the people. 

— 7&— 



Manzanet criticised the military officers as follows: 
"Evidently some of them thought that they were to be 
made rulers of the Tejas, and forgot His Excellency's 
express orders concerning the journey, which orders 
provided that Capt. Alonso should go as commander 
of the expedition that was to find out whether there 
were any Frenchmen in that region, and that Leon and 
his men should escort thither the priests who accom- 
panied Fray Damian Manzanet. If the Tejas asked for 
priests and desired baptism, the priests w^ere to remain 
there. And if the Tejas proved friendly and no dan- 
ger was to be expected at their hands, no large gar- 
rison was to be left behind; if, on the other hand, they 
proved troublesome, as many soldiers should remain as 
seemed needful, according to the advice andwith the 
consent of Father Fray Damian Manzanet. It was not in 
the least necessary for the safety of the priests to leave 
soldiers among the Tejas, for from the very first they 
welcomed us with so much affection and good will, that 
they could hardly do enough to please us. Yet, in the 
face of all this, Capt. Alonso de Leon made arrange- 
ments to leave fifty men, under the command of Capt. 
Nicolas Prieto, an incapable and undeserving old man. 

''When the time came, the captain told me of his 
purpose in a private interview, and I replied: — "You 
are under orders from His Excellency, and if you mean 
to consult with me, the consultation must not take place 
in private; call your captains and the priests, and in 
their presence state what you wish to offer for con- 
sideration. " This reply deeply wounded Leon, for his 
passions and blinded him. He called the captains and I 
called the priests, and Capt. Alonso de Leon told us that 
he had planned to leave for the protection of the priests 
forty or fifty soldiers under a leader, and that he was 
holding this consultation because His Excellency had 
ordered that, if soldiers w^ere to be left, it should be 
with my consent. To this I replied that it was not nec- 
essary to leave a military force in the district, since the 
people were so peaceable and so friendly. In case the 

—77— 



priests should need assistance, I requested that three 
soldiers whom I thought fit for the position should stay 
there. If he chose to leave a greater number, well and 
good; but with no consent of mine, for I did not wish 
more than three to remain. Leon was annoyed by my 
proposition, so was his friend Capt. Nicolas Prieto, who 
was to remain as leader of the forty or fifty soldiers. 
However, in the end, it was arranged that the three 
soldiers recommended by me should remain there. They 
were willing to do so, and were quite content. They 
belonged to the Zacatecas company. Leon left for the 
soldiers nine of the King's horses, some firelocks, a bar- 
rel of powder and some shot, and for the priests he left 
twenty-six loads of flour, twenty cows, two yoke of oxen, 
ploughs with ploughshares, axes, spades, and other little 
things. 

**0n the 2nd day of June we took departure, and the 
priests* walked with us a little way out of the village. 
Then we took leave of one another with many tears of 
joy and gladness, for these men did not sorrow at being 
left behind, nay, rather, they gave thanks to God for 
having merited such a grace as to be called to save the 
souls of the heathen. We arrived at the Trinity on the 3rd 
of June and found this river very high. On this account 
we were kept for a week from crossing. Meanwhile the 
governor's brother was taken ill and went home. 

"We followed the road by which we had come, until 
we reached the "rancheria" of the Emat, Toaa, Too, 
Cavas and other Indians, and in this "rancheria" we 
heard that the Indians on the coast had captured some 
young Frenchmen. The captain of the "rancheria" 
told us that although they themselves were at feud with 
the Indians on the coast, yet there was among them an 
Indian who held intercourse with those others, and if 
some of us desired to go and find them, this Indian 
would take those who wished to go. Captain Leon de- 

*The President. Fatlier Fonteeuherta. Father Francisco de Jesns 
Maria Casanas, Father Antonio Bordoy were the priests who re- 
mained with Tejas. 

—78— 



cided to go with twenty men for the purpose of trying 
to rescue the French boys. They reached the coast of 
the bay and found the Indians whom they sought. These 
had just arrived from some other portion of the same 
coast, armed with lances, and soon our people began to 
treat with them about delivering up the French boys. 
The Indians were promised horses and clothing if they 
would consent to give up the boys, and their reply was 
that they would do so promptly, without causing any 
trouble. The soldiers then began to enter the ''ran- 
chitos" of the Indians, peering with too much curiosity 
into their belongings, and committing other acts which 
incensed the Indians when they found out who was 
guilty. Later, after the French boys had been delivered 
over to our men, the Indians, having grown suspicious, 
commenced to shoot arrows among the soldiers. Two 
arrows struck Capt. Leon in the side, but as he wore 
mail, they did not penetrate; also, the horses were shot 
down under two other soldiers. There were four Indians 
killed and two wounded, and our men took the French 
boys and returned to the main body of the army, which 
was waiting by the Guadalupe river." 

There were some points on which Manzanet took 
special note on this journey, as follows: 

''First, in the preceding year we had everywhere 
found Indians, while in the year '90 we saw not a single 
one, until we inspected the Bay of Espiritu Santo and 
entered the land of Tejas. 

' ' Secondly, in the year before the soldiers all behaved 
in a peaceable, orderly manner, performing their duties 
faithfully, so that there was no disorder on the march, 
and no loss of horses. But in this year '90 there hardly 
passed a day without some one fighting, or else some 
officer stabbing a soldier, so that a lay brother who had 
come with me was generally kept busy tending the woun- 
ded. He treated them with tepid wine, which is, they 
say, an excellent cure for stabs in the head. 

"Thirdly, I noted that there were so many horses 

—79— 



and mules that the laden mules were not missed until 
some article contained in their pack was needed. As to 
the number of horses, it was never known to the officers. 

''Fourthly, Captain Leon had a chum along, Capt. 

so honorable that he never failed to play 

the tale bearer and excite quarrels ; so kind-hearted that 
only his friend Leon drank chocolate, and the others 
luke-warm water; so considerate of others that he got 
up early in the morning to drink chocolate, and would 
afterwards drink again with the rest; so vigilant that 
he would keep awake and go at midnight to steal the 
chocolate out of the boxes; perhaps his vigilance was 
the reason why, while, by order of His Excellency, 
Captin Leon should have left for the priests twelve 
hundredweight of chocolate -and the same quantity of 
sugar, he left only six hundredweight of each. 

''He is so compassionate towards the Indians that 
because he saw how poor they were, and that their only 
clothing was the skins of antelopes and buffaloes he 
endeavored to provide them in secret with the articles 
which His Excellency had sent for them — e. g. blankets, 
flannel, cloth and knives — but he arranged his alms- 
giving, (by first robbing tlie Indians of what they had,) 
that his gifts were equal to about one-fourth of his 
robberies. 

"Fifth, when the Indians brought certain complaints 
against the soldiers for entering their houses, Captain 
Leon never attempted to remedy things at all. In one 
particular case, when the brother of the governor of the 
Tejas came to us, complaining that a crime had been 
attempted on his wife, I remonstrated with Captain 
Leon about his letting such misdeeds go unpunished. I 
urged that conduct like this would not be tolerated 
even among IMjoors and heretics, and should be the more 
severely reproved in this case because we had come 
among these heathen people in order to give an example 
of right living. But ieon did not say a word — ^perhaps 
because he feared exposure. 

—80— 



"For lack of more time I shall now only add that 
which is the most noteworthy thing of all, namely this: 
While we were at the Tejas village, after we had dis- 
tributed clothing to the Indians and to the governor of 
the Tejas, the governor asked me one evening for a 
piece of blue baize to make a shroud in which to bury 
his mother when she died; I told him that cloth would 
be more suitable, and he answered that he did not want 
any color other than blue. I then asked him what mys- 
terious reason he had for preferring the blue color, and 
in reply he said that they were very fond of that color, 
particularly for burial clothes, because in times past 
they had been visited frequently by a very beautiful 
woman, who used to come down from the hills, dressed 
in blue garments, and that they wished to do as that 
woman had done. On my asking whether that had been 
long since, the governor said it had been before his time, 
but his mother, who was aged, had seen that woman, as 
had also the other old people. From this it is easily 
to be seen that they referred to the Madre Maria de 
Jesus de Agreda, who was very frequently in those 
regions, as she herself acknowledged to the Father Cus- 
todian of New Mexico, her last visit having been made 
in 1631, this last fact being evident from her own state- 
ment made to the said Father Custodian of New 
Mexico." 

When the military expedition withdrew, three priests 
were left alone in the wilds of Texas to tell the Indians 
of the true God. Father Fontecuberta, Father Francisco 
de Jesus Maria Casafias, and Father Antonio Bordoy, 
went to work with a will to master the Indian dialects 
and instruct the Indians. In a few months P^atlier Casa- 
fias established a second mission a few miles north from 
Mission San Francisco, on the Neches River, and called 
it El Santisimo Nombre de Maria. The labors of the 
Fathers were not entirely without reward, since they 
induced a number of Indians to receive baptism, among 
them being the Chenisi, the virtual head of the Tejas 
(Hasinai) tribes. There were innumerable discourage- 

—81-- 



ments however; the conduct of the soldiers, privates, 
and that of most of the officers who had accompanied 
the expedition into the Tejas country, had gone far to 
undo the good impression the Fathers made. The story 
of the outrageous conduct of the military in the other 
Indian rancherias, on their return trip to i\Iexico, re- 
ported by the Chief's relatives who journeyed with them 
part way, made the majority of the Indians suspicious 
of the good intentions of the Spaniards. 

No provisions or assistance reached these good 
Fathers far in the interior of Texas, until August 4, 
1691, when another expedition, commanded by the Gov- 
ernor of Coahuila and Texas, Don Domingo Teran de 
los Rios entered the Tejas country, commissioned to en- 
large the missions already established and found eight 
others among the Tejas, the Cadodachos, and those near 
the Guadalupe. The Spaniards then learned that the 
President of the Missions, Father Fontecuberta, had 
died of some dreadful sickness which had carried off 
in a single month three hundred of the tribe immediate- 
ly surrounding the Mission of San Francisco; and of 
the Tejas, or Hasinai tribes or confederacy, more than 
three thousand had died during the year 1690-1691. 
This expedition did little of anything it was sent out to 
do, and failed to accomplish any lasting good to the mis- 
sions, in fact, it went far to lessen the respect of the 
Indians for the Spanish, and while the former still pro- 
fessed good will toward the Spanish, to secure the pres- 
ents brought for them, they were constantly pilfering 
from the mission, and stealing and killing animals, and 
this began before the departure of Teran. At the sug- 
gestion of their "medicine men," they attributed the 
disease and deaths among them to the influence of the 
new religion that many of them had professed, and they 
began to rebel against it, and use threats against the 
Spanish. These difficulties were aggravated by the 
harshness and evil conduct of the soldiers in their deal- 
ings with the natives. Father Francisco Casaiias wrote 
of some of the difficulties encountered during his year 

—82— 



and three months residence at Mission San Francisco, 
and made various suggestions to the authorities. He ex- 
plained the many superstitions of the Indians: the ad- 
verse influence of the ''medicine men": the evil eon- 
duct of the soldiers who had been sent on the expedi- 
tions, and of those who had been left to guard the mis- 
sions: the stupendous task of learning the many lan- 
guages or dialects, without a knowledge of which it was 
almost impossible to make the Indians understand. He 
advised that a strong garrison be left with each mission 
but that the soldiers who formed the garrison should 
be exemplary married men only; that they should have 
their families with them, and thus form villages around 
the missions as examples of what was meant by a village. 
"In order to convert the Indians," he said, "the Span- 
iards must set them a good example, and so I beg, your 
Excellency, to consider and plan how this work, so 
pleasing to the Lord, may not be lost through the send- 
ing of criminals from the prisons, vagabonds and un- 
married, who if they were turned loose among Christ- 
ians would do harm, and here, by their depraved lives 
and atrocities committed, prevent the ministers of the 
Lord from gathering in the fruit of these souls." For 
two successive years after Teran's departure the har- 
vests were destroyed by drouth; the cattle became af- 
flicted with some disease and most of them died; the 
others were stolen by the Indians; the soldiers at the 
mission became unruly and offensive; and the savages 
grew constantly more threatening. 

In 1693, fresh supplies were sent out to the mission, 
and the missionaries again sent letters back describing 
conditions and setting forth their needs, asking for a 
sufficient number of soldiers, of the right kind, to pro- 
tect the priests from violence ; but the government did 
nothing. There was no longer fear of French encroach- 
ment, and the authorities ordered the abandonment of 
the missions and instructed the priests to retire. On the 
night of October 25, 1693, the priests buried the bells 
and such other property as they could not take with 

-«3— 



them, and left the mission for their return to Coahuila. 
The Indians missed them, and followed in large num- 
bers, overtaking them and with prayers and tears be- 
sought them to remain with them. Father Hidalgo 
promised to do so, and later returned and lived among 
the Hasinai (Tejas) for many years. Captain Urrutia 
also remained with some others. 

Father Hidalgo and the other missionaries who thus 
wandered among the Indians, here and there, seeking 
to save souls, were left by the government to brave the 
wilds of Texas alone, to starve or find foQd, to remain 
or leave as necessity demanded. As soon as danger 
from French aggression was removed the King's re- 
presentatives seem to have forgotten the souls of the 
Indians, and the instructions of His Majesty. 

Interest in the Texas missions was, however, sudden- 
ly reawakened by renewal of French activities, in 1715. 
When it was seen with what ease Saint Denis apeared 
at San Juan Bautista del Rio Grande, the Spanish were 
aroused from their lethargy. Saint-Denis plausibly 
stated that he had entered Texas to buy stock from the 
missions, which he believed to be still in existence, and 
that when the Indians found that he was going on to 
seek the Spanish, they immediately requested him to 
petition, in their name, that the missionaries be sent 
back to them. The petition of the Indians was acted 
upon promptly and favorably, nine missionaries agree- 
ing to go, and Domingo Ramon was appointed to lead 
a company of tAventy-five soldiers to assist the nine 
missionaries at the missions. They reached the Tejas, 
June 26, 1716, and were joyfully received, the Indians 
chanting the calumet of welcome to them. The first 
mission, San Francisco de los Tejas was re-established 
a little further inland — east of the Neches River near 
the large mounds. A wooden Church was erected with a 
thatched roof. The mission had its banner with its name 
emblazoned on it, and all the requisites for divine 
service in the chapel. In the Hasinai nation. La Purisma 
Concepcion was founded, Father Ysidro Espinosa 

—84— 



taking charge on July 7th. The Zacatecan Fathers took 
possession of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, among the 
Nacogdoches Indians, on the 9th of July. On the 10th 
of the same month, ten leagues to the north of Mission 
Concepcion, Mission San Jose was founded.* 

Saint-Denis wielded a strong and beneficial influence 
over the Indians and therefore obtained the highest re- 
gard of the missionaries, and since he had married into 
the family of Ramon, and was in Spanish pay, at that 
time, many esteemed him as a suitable person to be 
placed in charge of the frontier. The missionaries asked 
that Saint-Denis be appointed governor, with a view of 
keeping the Indians in subjection. They also clamored 
for people to be sent out as settlers, to teach the Indian? 
steady habits by example, and to encourage them to 
adopt a settled mode of living, but nothing was done, 
and they were again, apparently deserted. 



SOME OF THE HARDSHIPS EXPERIENCED BY 

THE MSSIONARIES IN EAST TEXAS IN 

1716-1718.— THE FULL COULD NEVER 

BE TOLD. 



In the early days of the missions of Texas there was 
much similarity in the daily routine, experiences and 
hardships of the missionaries, so that what is told of 
one mission or missionary may be taken, in general, as 
applying to all of that period, in the same section of the 
country, surrounded by the same conditions. 

There were two colleges represented in Texas at this 
period — laborers for the work of the conversion of the 
Indians being sent from Queretaro and from Zacatecas. 
Father Isidro Felix de Espinosa was president in 
charge of those sent from Queretaro, and the Venerable 
Anthony Margil was president, and in charge of the 
priests sent from Zacatecas, at the same time the Vener- 

♦Cronica, Padre Espinosa. 

—85— 



able Anthony Margil who had founded the colleges of 
Queretaro and Zacatecas, as well as that of Guatamala, 
and who had been Guardian or head of them all — was in 
charge of all the missions of Texas, in general. 

Father Espinosa, in 1715, says: "From the time the 
missionaries arrived in the Province of Texas they en- 
dured innumerable hardships, and began to sustain 
themselves with the bread of tears and tribulations. . . 

"... . The first disappointment was the des- 
ertion of the soldiers who came as escorts — seven of 
them fled and took with them the animals that belonged 
to the religious. 

' ' The site of each mission being settled on, the religious 
remained alone making their straw dwellings, and a& a 
providence for future maintenance they began an absti- 
nence. Their dinner usually consisted of a small quantity 
of the vegetable purslane, gathered from the fields of the 
Indians, the only condiment being a little salt and 
pepper. The Indians occasionally brought a little meal, 
frijoles and fruits which served to divert rather than 
satisfy hunger. They rarely had a mouthful of meat — 
but once, when a goat broke its leg, we cut him up and 
lived on the remainder for a week. Chocolate, which is 
usually the chief part of a dinner with us, was very 
scarce, and between six religious (those that were from 
the college of Queretero,) we had only two anobas to 

divide and although all had their trials, some 

more, some less, they considered that they were living 
very pleasantly, if they did not have to pass a day with- 
out celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, asking 
God for the conversion of these people. 

"As the Indians were so scattered the chief endeavor 
of the missionaries was to persuade them' to live together 
— and although they gave promises of doing so and 
planting crops, and raising their harvests, it was such 
a task that no minister was able to have the consolation 
of having all his people together. The missionaries 
moved to more spacious dwellings with the desire to 

—86- 



congregate the Indians — but the land did not afford 
the capacity that was necessary for the number of per- 
sons — about a thousand — that were in each pueblo .... 
As the Fathers knew much of the language of the coun- 
try they tried to point out to the Indians their errors, 
showing them the darkness in which they lived, and 
tried to impress upon them the great importance of a 
belief in the one true God and three Divine Persons, 
and of the necessity of receiving Baptism .... Upon 
one occasion a priest speaking to one of their teachers, 
or medicine men, of his errors, after the former was 
well acquainted with the language, he convinced him 
that he had held to wrong beliefs, and not having 
reasons to evade the Catholic truth, the latter confessed 
that his religion had no more foundation that that he 
had inherited it from his parents — that he and the 
others had good hearts and that they would try to follow 
the teachings of the missionaries. Among the women 
they found more docility to be taught the truth of God 'g 
law — and so there were many women who called for 
and received Baptism in danger of death, and the mis- 
sionaries gathered in hands full of the desired fruit, 
since of all who died — rarely one went without holy 
Baptism. That none should miss the great happiness of 
Baptism before dying, the missionaries made lists of the 
houses and ranches of the Indians with the number of 
adults and of children, and the names of the places, and 
when any Indian came to visit the Fathers, they asked 
him if all his family were well — and on finding out that 
any one was sick they promised to go to see him and this 
they did ; not only to console the family but principally 
to catechise the sick person and persuade him that he 
should receive holy Baptism, and although this was a 
very difficult thing — ^because many believed that the 
holy water shortened their lives — the zealous ministers 
undeceived them with plain reasons, and the sick ones 
moved from on High voluntarily received Baptism. It 
was a usual thing at times, to have epidemics among the 
Indians, and the most common was the flux — a bloody 

—87— 



dysentery. In winter, they were accustomed to throw 
coals of fire under the bed to moderate the great rigor 
of the cold, having high beds and not enough buffalo 
robes to keep them warm. The fire supplied what they 
lacked in cover, but was the occasion of their sad infirm- 
ity. When the epidemic was raging — the padres would 
not w^ait to be called, but saying Mass, mounted their 
horses and went to visit all the ranches — and at the cost 
of much labor — they did not return to their missions 
without having baptized all of the dying. If they met 
with resistance they repeated the visit another day, 
asking Heaven that the eyes and souls of those poor 
Indians would be opened, and God moved by the faith 
and piety of the Fathers, and pity for the ignorance 
of those poor people, and the great price of His Blood, 
caused them to receive Baptism. 

"The great and unceasing labor that this dilligence 
occasioned the ministers can be seen when one reflects 
how far distant the ranches of these Indians were from 
each other — some being distant six and seven leagues 

and it was not possible, although one should 

run, to visit the greater part in a day, for it was neces- 
sary sometimes to stop a long time to teach the dying 
and to convince the well ones that they should not inter- 
fere to prevent the salvation of the sick. 

''To encourage his ministers and reward their zeal 
God performed many wonderful things .... The first 
year that the missions were founded the chief of the 
Tejas Indians was sick in his own house, at the same 
time another chief, a relative, was also sick; both being 
very old and greatly esteemed by all the people. The 
people knowing death was near congregated by muti- 
tudes — men and women — some coming, others going, so 
that there was a crowd day and night. There was al- 
ways around the house more than five hundred persona. 
I knew in what grave condition the chief was, and 
mounting my horse went the distance of five leagues to 
see him, .... to find out his sickness and console the 
people — though my principal object was that he should 

—88— 



not die without being baptized. I made him understand 
in his idiom, how much I felt for him, because he liked 
all the religious very much, and I gently proposed the 
necessity of Baptism for his salvation — pointing out the 
errors of his forefathers. He listened attentively and 
asked time to answer me. Five days afterwards I re- 
peated the visit, and at the end of it he commanded 
water to be brought and a vessel, and before those who 
assisted him he lowered his head and asked that I bap- 
tise him, which I did, increasing with the water from my 
eyes, that already in the vessel. This captain, who by the 
circumstances of his baptism, I shall call happy — •! named 
Francisco — because when I commenced to teach him 1 
invoked to my aid the seraphic patriarch .... Before 
he died he gave much advice to his son and charged him 
to take care of the Fathers — saying that they knew the 
truth and came from far off lands to save them, with 
other reasons which made me undei^stand that the holy 
Baptism had had its effect upon its soul. 

''The chief Captain now being baptised, all my anx- 
iety next was to obtain the same happiness for the other 
sick man, his relative, since I knew that that living 
skeleton was ready to lay his bones in the earth. I had 
already catechised him and Ee asked time, delaying that 
he should see more clearly. One day, when the sun was 
very bright and the morning very serene, his wife put 
him on a bench to bathe him. It seemed to me to be an 
opportune occasion — that he should wash his soul while 
he bathed his body. I went to him and asked him soft- 
ly in his language if he wished to wash his soul as he 
washed his body, that nothing more was necessary for 
his eternal happiness, and I repeated anew the holy 
lavatory, and he answered that he would do so. His 
wife ignorant of what I intended did not wish to give 
me the vessel with which she was bathing him — but he 
seriously commanded her to bring it full of water — and 
bo^\'ing his head, he made a sign that I should baptise 
him, saying that which I taught him, and with the namo 
of Francisco, I baptised him much to my delight. 

—89— 



"In two or three days, with the difference of a few 
hours, my two Franciscos died, and the people were 
greatly distressed, and spent eight days in their funeral 
ceremonies. 

** Among the Indians, those who had the greatest 
authority among the Tejas, and even above the chiefs, 
are the priests whom they call Chenesi. The chief of 
these, that is, he who takes care of the house of fire and 
has his house near, that the flame may never lack nour- 
ishment, was the most opposed to the Christian priests 
and fought with much acrimony the holy Baptism, tell- 
ing the sick that the water which the priests called holy, 
shortened their lives .... This priest, Sata Taexa by 
name, became sick unto death, and the danger of that 
poor soul being lost, coming to my notice, I made the 
determination that he should be baptised. It was an 
undertaking for the powerful arm of God, and I needed 
special aid and succor from heaven. It was the day of 
the conversion of St. Paul, and remembering what the 
Lord did with this persecutor of Christians, and mis- 
trusting my own efforts, I made use of my humble com- 
panion, who was at that time Fray Gabriel, a man old 
and virtuous; and to encourage him for this work, I 
commanded him for so much obedience that he should 
go to the house of the sick man — more than three leagut» 
distant — and that he should try to undeceive him of his 
many errors, and should persuade him that the only 
door by which he could enter heaven was holy Baptism. 
The humble religious obeyed, and with great prudence 
and forethought he began to destroy the hardness of 
that hard impenitent heart — he felt hopes of carrying 
out his intent — and repeated the visit in spite of the 
battles of the evil spirits. Sata Taxea at last, freely and 
spontaneously asked Baptism, and at the instance of 
the zealous minister, he received it; the new Paul, for 
so he was named, called together the Indians and told 
them clearly that all of their beliefs were lies and it was 
the truth alone which the Fathers preached. May God 
be praised forever ! " . . . . 

—90— 



"In January, 1717, Father Margil went to visit the 
Ais, notwithstanding a severe cold spell and ice and 
snow, and founded with inUch labor the Mission of 
Dolores. On this occasion he reduced to a town the 
numerous nation of Tatasis, but the continued rise of 
the rivers prevented him from carrying his work to 
completion. In the month of March the rivers went down 
and he went to make a treaty with the Adaes Indians 
fifty leagues distant from the Mission of Dolores, and 
only ten leagues distant from the French Fort, and 
there he founded Mission San Miguel, and left in charge 
Father Augustin Patron, and a lay-brother as his com- 
panion. Father Margil then returned to Mission Dolores 
where he had left his companion. Brother Francisco de 
Santiago, of mature age and exemplary virtue. But a 
short time only, did he enjoy the consolation of his 
companionship, for the good religious soon died, and 
alone Father Margil gave him burial, and to make his 
death known to his brethren, he sent the only soldier he 
had, staying alone at the mission. 

At this time he received notice that the French wished 
to settle in the Cadodacho villages and preoccupy the 
place, and he decided to go and build a mission there — 
for w^hich Father Francisco Hidalgo very joyfully of- 
fered himself. Having provided everything necessary . . 
he set out with a Father and the Captain of the Presidio, 
but the journey was frustrated because the Tejas Indians 
they had to guide them, fooled them and took them the 
wrong way. I do not know if for fear of the French, 
or from their own malice," 

No aid had been received from any source by the mis- 
sionaries since they had gone to the Tejas country early 
in 1716, and as they were not well provided with ne- 
cessaries in the beginning, their sufferings constantly 
increased. Their sufferings for the common necessities 
were uninmaginable and the neglect of the government 
for almost two years inexcusable. Owing to droughts, 
in 1717 and 1718, the Indians had a very scanty crop of 
corn and frijoles, and this cut off what supplies the 

—91— 



missionaries had been accustomed to receive from the 
natives. The fathers sent letters back to their colleges 
telling of their extreme need, and the colleges in turn 
informed the government; the Marquis de Valero named 
a governor who should go at once with the relief under 
proper escort, but it was two years before it arrived. 
In the meantime, in 1717, the President of the Missions 
on the Rio Grande learning of their distressful condi- 
tion and anxious to relieve their immediate needs, 
caused some supplies to be sent in care of a few religious 
and an escort of fifteen soldiers ; but when they reached 
the Trinity River it was so high that the overflow ex- 
tended about two leagues to the w^est of that river and 
they could get no nearer to the missionaries they had 
gone to relieve. The latter were more than forty leagues 
to the east of the Trinity. They waited until the begin- 
ning of December, and when they saw that the rains 
were increasing, they left all the cargo in a little forest 
of oaks, and returned very disconsolately to the Rio 
Grande. The religious conductors were very anxious to 
go to the help of their brothers, but seeing the impassa- 
bleness of the rivers, they left a written paper in the 
hands of some of the Tejas Indians who had remained 
on that side of the river to sow seed; charging them 
that as soon as the river went down, they should take 
the paper and give it to the Fathers. 

Of course nothing was said to the Indians of the 
cargo, as they did not wish them to know anything about 
it, and they did all that was possible to conceal it, with- 
out attracting attention. 

The poor missionaries whom the cargo was intended 
to relieve, knew nothing of it until the latter part of the 
next July, when a much crumpled and soiled letter was 
brought to Father Espinosa, eight months after it was 
written. 

In the mean time they had been without corn with 
which to make bread, for all the Indian ranches put to- 
gether had but one bushel. They had no meat, or when 
they were able to get a little, it did not make a mouth- 

—92— 



ful when divided. In the spring when a handful of corn 
given them by Indians was sowed, the crop when 
gathered helped some to supply the table. Quoting 
again from Fatlier Espinosa : "We had no salt — and 
when happily we had some frijoles — for lack of salt they 
were tasteless, and were able to serve as a purge. No 
meat was to be had or taken, as already the sign of 
Aries and Taurus had gone up into the sky. Occasion- 
ally, the Indians, pitying us, brought us a quarter of a 
deer — and this, for lack of salt, we did not enjoy. Many 
days we had nothing to eat — but as necessity is the 
mother of industry and invention it occurred to one of 
the missionaries that the flesh of the crows might not be 
unfit. They are as small as jays and abound in the trees 
in the morning. After this, with the aid of a musket we 
had fresh meat every day. The blackness and hardness 
of it destroyed the appetite and was repugnant to the 
sight, but our necessity was so great that for the greater 
part of the year it made a good dish. When the other 
missionaries (those from Zacatecas) learned of this dis- 
covery they also made crows their ordinary food. On 
fast days the appetite was always greater, but the re- 
ligious were not allowed to fast altogether under the 
circumstances, as there was nothing substantial to eat 
at any time, but whenever possible use was made of the 
knotvn herbs of the country, and some nuts which they 
gathered to season them. Sometimes the leaves of the 
mustard served as a pleasant salad, especially if there 
was a little salty earth to season it. At times, the torment 
of hunger was relieved, when tlie Indians, occasion- 
ally, came with things to eat which they had found. 

The need for wax for candles for Mass was also great, 
but this was supplied for many days by renewing the 
wicks until all the wax was consumed. Afterwards we 
used candles of tallow, but we were able to get so little 
of the Indians that we found ourselves obliged to 
celebrate a feast day with only one tallow candle, and 
the wine was so scarce that we were obliged to mix it 
with some sour grape juice. 

—93— 



''At this time the Venerable Padre Margil came to 
our mission. His was distant thirty-two leagues, and al- 
though at their missions they (the Fathers from Zaca- 
tecas) had lacked everything necessary for the table, 
they were supplied with things for Mass, and as soon as 
he learned our need for wine and wax he gave me a little 
bottle of two cuartillas, and one pound of wax, all of 
which we divided between six priests, and it served us 
as a great consolation, because we were able to say some 
masses on week days. Father ]\Dargil told me that he 
had buried a jar of wine for greater necessity." 



THE FINDING OF THE CARGO; ITS PROTEC- 
TION, AND THE MEETING WITH THEIR 
FRIENDS AND BROTHERS. 



''About a half or quarter of a league from where the 
cargo was left hidden were some Tejas Indians, who 
had gone to hunt and dry the meat of the buffalo, and 
every day many of them went out to hunt. It is truly 
marvelous how the cargo should have escaped their eyes 
for the little grove of oaks was not thick enough to hide 
anyone who should enter it, and that these Tejas 
Indians did not see it was simply because the Lord hid 
it from their sight." These Indians saw the soldiers 
come with the cargo, and afterwards some of the same 
Indians met them when they were returning with the 
unladen mules, and eight months later when some of the 
party returned to the place where they had camped for 
so long, the path to the cargo made by the footprints of 
the animals was still visible, and was so plain that 
Father Espinosa who with the Captain of the Presidio 
had set out with the few mules they could get together, 
found the place with no trouble, from the directions 
given him by the note. 

As time went on, and no letter had been received 
from Texas, the President of the Rio Grande Missions, 

—94— 



Father Pedro Munoz, decided that the cargo must have 
been taken by the Indians, and with a quantity of wine 
and w^ax set out with some soldiers to carry relief to the 
Texas missions. He took with him the religious who had 
gone the year before and some of the same soldiers. 
When he reached the place where they had made their 
camping place before, Father Munoz sent on the relig- 
ious with two soldiers who knew where they had hidden 
the cargo, with instructions that if they should find 
anything they should return quickly to tell it, but, as a 
sign of good success to fire a musket before coming 
back. They found the cargo just as they had left it and 
laughing joyfully, the soldiers fired their two muskets 
as a sign of great success, but to their amazement, at the 
same time that they were shooting, they heard other 
shots answering. Knowing that none of those who re- 
mained with the Father had any arms, they did not 
know what to think. All listened, but were perplexed 
on hearing the shots without knowing whence they 
came, and to dissipate their doubts, some mounted horses 
and went to all parts of the surrounding country for a 
long distance, but they discovered no human footsteps. 
"They then piously decided that the guards placed by 
the invisible God who had so long hidden the succor from 
the eyes of the Indians, who are like lynx to discover 
and follow up the least trace that they find on the 
ground, were those who had made the salvo," (salute.) 
The party from the Rio Grande camped at this place 
to rest. Father Espinosa and escort, although the 
captain entertained no hope that the Indians had 
left anything, set out on their search for the cargo, on 
St. Ann's day, just a few days after the receipt of the 
crumpled and faded note. At last they reached the 
place, and who can picture their joy at finding both 
the cargo and their friends! Father Espinosa says: 
''Our joy was doubled and made us pour many tears 
of thanksgiving." They found everything of the cargo 
"intact as it had been left the preceding year, and even 
the bows and arrows which they had put upon the boxes 

—95— 



had suffered no detriment. ' ' They read their many new 
and old letters, they found with pleasure that the vice- 
roy had given many needed orders with reference to 
the province of Texas. The one which pleased them 
most and for which they had long pleaded was that the 
next entrada should bring good families as settlers, 
soldiers and a sufficient number of people, with flocks 
and herds, ammunition, provisions, oxen, seeds, agri- 
cultural tools and everything necessary to cultivate the 
lands, to establish towns and missions that would con- 
tribute to the propagation and conservation of the faith. 
Another order was ''that the government of Coahuila 
should be joined to that of Texas." It was also or- 
dered that with the consent of the missionary fathers, 
one or two missions should be estatilished between the 
San Antonio and Guadalupe Rivers, and that all things 
necessary for their support and maintenance should be 
supplied to enable them to cultivate the land and estab- 
lish the towns and a settlement of Indians; that with 
perseverance and dilligence they should bring the In- 
dians together, and treat them kindly, without violence: 
that through the hands of the missionaries they should 
distribute gifts of cloth and glass beads, and of other 
things destined for them, in the name of his Mbjesty; 
and by agreement with the Father missionaries they 
should endeavor by all means to reduce the Indians to 
certain limits, and all the different Indian nations — 
by offering gifts to their leaders and chiefs — and 
through promises of good treatment, which shall be 
given to them as promised, if they live peacefully ac- 
cording to our holy religion and recognize our God 

and King That only the soldiers who 

have families shall remain among the Tejas It 

was further ordered that all the missions of Texas shouH 
be under the conduct of Venerable Padre Margil." 

There was great rejoicing among the missionaries 
over this good news, that they were to have government 
help for the missions, that their advice had been acted 
upon, and that all else was to be subordinate to the 

—96— 



conversion of the Indians and the saving of souls. But 
alas, the Padres were again doomed to disappointment ; 
And that is the history of the Missions of Texas, — 
promises, hopes, disappointments and trials without 
end for the poor Padres ; for in the chapter on the 
Missions it will be seen how the entradas (military 
trains) came, but left no substantial benefit as had been 
ordered and promised, and the poor Fathers were left 
again to struggle alone. 



The next governor appointed was Don Martin de 
Alarcon who was ordered to carry fifty married soldiers, 
three master carpenters, a blacksmith, and a stonemason 
to put the settlement on a firm basis; each person, like 
the soldiers, to draw a yearly salary of four hundred 
pesos. When it was discovered that Alarcon on his 
entry, in 1718, had not obeyed orders with reference 
to the missions, the missionaries at once sent in a com- 
plaint, in which they recited that he had not brought 
the master mechanics ordered ; nor the fifty soldiers ; and 
the soldiers he had brought were idle and hurtful to the 
missions, as coming from the most corrupt and worth- 
less classes. The poor missionaries were almost heart 
broken over the failure of their countrymen to meet 
their responsibilities. 

War broke out between Spain and France during the 
regency of the Duke of Orleans. The French on the 
frontier heard of it and invaded the presidio of Pen- 
zacola May 19, 1719, after Alarcon 's departure; one of 
the frontier missions of Texas was also attacked and the 
inhabitants impelled by fright retired inland. ''The 
soldiers overruling the determination of the missionaries 
to remain, all retreated toward San Antonio." 

The Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo offered his 
services a:'d fortune, in this time of stress to repel the 
PVench, and being accepted, escorted the missionaries 
back to their old missions. Hi^ patronage, founded 

—97— 



Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo before liis 
entrada. 

Mission Espiritu Santo de Zufiiga, near the presidio 
of Nuestra Seiiora de Loreto or La Bahia del Espiritu 
Santo, were among the establishments founded at this 
time, but on the whole he accomplished a very small 
part of what was hoped and longed for by the mission- 
aries, as he did not leave oxen or other stock in sufficient 
numbers for the missions, nor provisions, nor tools for 
cultivating the land, nor the families promised them. 

In September, the Brigadier Don Pedro de Riviera 
began the revistas of the presidios of Texas. He sup- 
pressed one of the presidios, reduced the garrisons of all 
the others and so removed all hope from the missiona- 
ries that the government would do anything more for 
the missions. The missionaries protested against the 
suppression of the Presidio de los Tejas, (Nuestra Se- 
nora de los Dolores,) and petitioned that its former 
force and that of Adaes be doubled, or if that be not 
granted, that the captains of the presidios should place 
at their disposal competent guards for the missions, and 
for separating the apostate from the heathen Indians. 
The petition was denied, and the father President, 
Miguel Sevillano, appealed to His Majesty, complaining 
of the measures of the viceroy. A royal cedula asked 
for the viceroy's report. Don Pedro de Riviera defended 
his arguments, the viceroy defended his action, and 
against their combined official testimony the letter of 
the missionary seemed unimportant and the orders were 
allowed to stand. 

When hope of assistance by the government was lost 
the Franciscans of Queretaro, in charge of Missions San 
Francisco de los Neches, (de los Tejas,) Nuestra Con- 
cepcion de los Ilasinai, and San Jose de los Nazones, 
asked to have their missions removed to the vicinity of 
the presidio of San Antonio de Bejar. This was done 
at the close of 1730, and Mission San Francisco was 
located about nine miles below San Antonio, on the 
right or west bank of the San Antonio River and became 

—98— 




known as Mission San Francisco de la Espada. Father 
Juan Morfi says of this mission: (1778,) "Mission San 
Francisco de la Espada, which is the last one, has forty 
settlers and a total of 133 souls. It sows nine fanegas 
of corn, though it could raise much more. It has 4,000 
head of cattle, sheep and horses. These have been greatly 
diminished on account of the great number stolen by 
the Lipans and Comanches. The living quarters of the 
priests, although rude and unfinished, are fairly com- 
fortable. The houses of the Indians are the same little 
huts that are found everywhere. The Church was tora 
down because it was in a dangerous state of dilapidation. 
Services are held in a low room, capacious and well 
supplied with sacred vessels and very decent ornaments. 
This mission has a great deal of good land, with a 
copious supply of water from the San Antonio River. 
It is in charge of the Fathers, Fray Juan Botello and 
Fray Pedro Noreiia."* 

*The writer has an old mission l)ook bearinir the signature of 
Padre Norena. 



-99- 



Today the boundaries of the mission square are quite 
distinct except on the side facing the river. The well 
preserved baluarte or bastion, with its portholes, and its 
many imprints of cannon balls made in the long ago, 
is a small round tower presenting quite a feudal ap- 
pearance, projecting outwardly from the southeast cor- 
ner of the square. It is well worth seeing. The well, 
the acequias, the chapel, and portions of the mission 
buildings with arched doors are still to be seen. There 
were other baluartes, or bastions, says tradition, but no 
traces of them now remain. One Avas said to be in the 
south wall, west of the present one, another toward the 
north end of the west side. 




The Reverend Francis Bouchu, who came to Texas, 
in 1845, with Bishop Odin long made his home at this 
mission of San Francisco de la Espada, and served as 
priest all the settlements for many miles about, and to 
Father Bouchu is owed the preservation of the baluarte 
and other buildings. The front of the chapel of the 
mission is all that is left of the original structure. The 
entrance door, unmistakably Moorish, reminds one of 

—100— 



the Alhambra in shape and line. It is built in the form 
of a cross. The elevated front, fitted with arches, serves 
as a belfry tower, where the three original bells may 
still be seen. It is said that some of the mission bells 
were cast at the missions, and it may be true, as the 
early missionaries seemed prepared to do most every- 
thing. However that may be, they were proficient in 
another art or accomplishment for there are several 
pretty specimens of wrought iron work at IMission San 
Francisco and the other missions. With his own hands 
Father Bouchu repaired and rebuilt most of the Chapel, 
and the main mission building, which was originally 
erected with arcades running along the front, and lead- 
ing to the Chapel. 

''Padre Francisco," as the mission people called him, 
fitted up the buildings on the south and east sides for a 
school house and they are still used for that purpose. 
This good Father, who Was wonderfully active and 
persevering knew something of many subjects. Joining 
with his priestly vocation a knowledge of practical hand- 
icraft he was a worthy successor to the original founders. 
He was among other things something of a musician, 
scientist, historian, photographer, stone mason, carpen- 
ter, laAvyer, cook, bricklayer and printer. He obtained a 
printing press and printed catechisms, and other neces- 
sary books for the poor Mexicans. He preserved all the 
history possible of the mission and worked faithfully 
among his poor parishoners until his last illness. Many 
old relies of the Indian days may be seen at the mission 
preserved by Father Bouchu; notably, the statue of the 
Christ carrying His Cross, and the Madre Dolores or 
Sorrowful iUother, used in the realistic Via Crucis, or 
the Passion Play of the old mission days. 

The square of this mission was the first camping 
ground of the Texas army of independence in the cam- 
paign about Bexar, in 1835. 



-101- 




=^=^ 



Ground Plan Mission San Francisco de la Espada. 

Dotted Hues are ruined walls. T stands for bastion or bulwark. 
A for arched doorway. 



-102- 



MARl CORONEL OF AGREDA. 

In tiie cil\ of Acreda, Spain, there lived a beautiful 
little girl, dainty, }»raceful and spiritiielle, born of noble 
parentage and surrounded with every comfort. Tier 
parents were persons of education, purposeful and deeply 
religious. They took a profound interest in public af- 
fairs, and entertained all persons of note coming through 
Agreda; in fact, so general was their hospitality that 
they may be said to have kept ''open house" continually. 
The great questions and happenings of the day were 
discussed, tales of travels and hardships were recounted, 
and the little Mary, who was always present, listened 
to all with sympathetic heart. The tales of the New 
World particularly took her fancy, and travelers re- 
turning from or going there interested her most of all. 
The Indians, those strange people of the New World 
who knew not God, without any means of enlightment, 
most excited her sympathy and fired her imagination, 
and she longed to be like the men — able to go out to 
them and help them — to help to draw away the dark 
veil shrouding their intellects and to bring light and 
salvation to their minds and souls. 

As she developed into womanhood, her beautiful 
character expanded, and she was always to be found 
where consolation was needed and charity was to be dis- 
pensed. Her sympathy was universal, and none were 
too low or too high for her tender ministrations. Still 
her thoughts and prayers were chiefly for the benighted 
Indians of the New World, and she lost no opportunity 
to point out to all who came her way, the great need 
of the Indians, and to urge them to take the perilous 
voyage across the seas to enlighten those in such un- 
happiness and darkness of spirit. 

She finally determined to devote her time and means 
to doing all the good possible, and founded a society 
whose members were to teach all who needed instruction, 
to succor all who needed aid, and to pray for those whom 
it was impossible to reach in person. This institution 

—103— 



soon became famous throughout the country. The little 
Mary now become the learned and distinguished Mary 
de Agreda, still retained her child-like heart and intense 
sympathy for the Indians. She prayed for them con- 
tinually, and for the men who went out to them, and 
would spend hours on her knees in prayer, begging 
Providence to succor them. At last it seemed to her that 
a way was opened to her to visit the New World, and 
after a long sea voyage and tedious overland route, she 
found herself among certain tribes of Indians hereto- 
fore unheard of in the Old World, who were in every 
way superior to the vast hordes — who were gentle and 
well disposed, whose government was almost civilized, 
who dwelt together in towns. These towns consisted 
of a number of round straw houses roofed in conical 
shape. While they kept a perpetual fire burning, they 
were not exactly fire-worshippers, though they believed 
that should the fire die out they would all perish. The 
fire was built of four logs, one log each pointing north, 
south, east and west. There was one Great house where 
they kept the principal fire and from whence the other 
fires were brought. Great piles of logs for the replenish- 
ing of the fire were kept outside the Great House near 
at hand. It being impossible for Mary de Agreda to 
remain long at a time with these Indians, slie made them 
frequent visits, gaining the devoted love of the women 
and the reverential respect of the men of the tribe, and 
obtained their promise that they would receive respect- 
fully, as teachers, white men in dark robes whom slie 
would send to them to advance and raise their race, 
and help them in their need. 

The picture of the strange and beautiful country and 
the many in dire need in the land of the Theas or Teas 
never left her, and she besought all persons going to 
the New World to endeavor to reach these particular 
tribes whom she had visited. She wrote pleading letters 
to the same end to all whom she heard were embarking 
for that region, and exacted a promise from the Gustos 
(or Guardian) of New Mexico who visited her at her 

—104— 



institution in Agreda, that he should see to it that these 
tribes were reached. Finally her prayers and entreaties 
were rewarded in this wise. A missionary by name of 
Damien M^nzanet had been sent a copy of the descrip- 
tion of the tribes in whom this distinguished woman 
was interested, with the account of her visits to them, 
and a request from the Gustos of New Mexico that he 
go to them if possible. He went on to the border of 
Coahuila to be as near the unknow^n territory as con- 
venient, and finally was the means of convincing the 
authorities in New Mexico that there w^ere French in 
Texas, and he accompanied the next expedition under 
De Leon sent into the interior of that country to search 
for the French. He there found some of the tribes re- 
ferred to by Mary Coronel de Agreda, and immediately 
made arrangements to found a mission among them. 
In May 1689, General Alonzo de Leon refers to her 
in his report on his expedition to the Tejas. The next 
year, on his return to the Tejas country, Manzanet and 
his companions w^ere joyfully and kindly received and 
shown every consideration. The Governor or chief of 
the Tejas Indians one day asked Manzanet for some blue 
baize in which to bury his grandmother when she died. 
Manzanet asked him why he desired it blue. The Chief 
replied that it w^as because a beautiful woman who had 
come often to visit their tribe and w^hom the}^ reverenced, 
wore blue, and they wished to be like her on passing 
to the other world. The chief said she had not visited 
them in his time, but that the oldest people remembered 
her, that she had promised them teachers, and now that 
^I,anzanet and his companions had come, the "high 
priest" or medicine man of the tribe had told them that 
these were the true teachers w^ho had been expected. 

The strange part of the story is that Mary de Agreda 
had never really been in Texas or the New World in 
person, but during her state of intense longing and con- 
tiued prayer, she must have dreamed all or visited them 
in ecstasy — but so vivid were the dreams — if dreams 
they were — and so many times were they repeated and 

—105— 



the same country and people held in vision before her 
mind day after day, and month after month, that they 
became as real to her as those among whom she actually 
lived. She conversed with these dream people and prom- 
ised them teachers which she finally caused to be sent 
as we have seen. Numerous were her writings descrip- 
tive of these people, their country, customs and names 
of tribes, and it was afterwards found to be correct and 
true.* 

Stranger yet is the fact that the people of these tribes 
saw her, loved and remembered her, and that she seemed 
real to them. Her appearance and dress were described 
by the Tejas Indians to the whites coming to the region 
in 1690, and her memory held in great esteem. The tra- 
ditions of her visits were handed down in all the tribes 
akin to the Tejas in various parts of the country. 

Mary Coronet of Agreda was bom in 1602, died May 
24, 1665. Agreda was a small town in Old Castile on 
the borders of Aragon where one of Mary Coronet's 
ancestors had built a fine institution and established a 
society for the promotion of education among the people. 
In 1619 she joined this society, and became such a val- 
uable member that she was placed at the head in 1626. 
Her mother also joined the society; and the order with 
Mary Coronel at its head reached its greatest fame and 
power for good. 

*There are still some of her writings extaut aud some are pre- 
served iu Fordham College, New York. 




106— 




Mission de Nuestra Senora de la 
Purisima Concepcion 
de Acuna. 



Mission de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion 
de Acuiia was originally founded among the Asinais 
Indians (of the Hasinai or Tejas confederacy) in 1716, 
and, in 1730, was removed to its present site two miles 
below San Antonio. The early history of this mission, 
between 1716 to 1731, the dates respectively of its foun- 
dation and the laying of its corner stone, is very similar 
to that of Mission San Francisco de los Tejas, as they 
were founded near each other and passed through the 
same general struggles and vicissitudes. In east Texas 
the mission was called Nuestra Seiiora de la Purisima 
Concepcion de los Asinais, showing among what Indian 
tribe it was located. 

Its name refers to the doctrine of the Immaculate 
(.Conception of the Virgin Mary, which was generall}^ 
held by Catholics, though not defined as a dogma until 

—107— 



December 8, 1854, nearly a century and a half after 
the foundation of this mission in Texas. The other 
part of the name, Acuna, was given in honor of the 
Marquis de Casafuerte, Viceroy of Mexico at the time 
of the laying of the corner stone of the present building 
on its removal from East Texas. 

This mission was built on the same general plan as 
the others and intended for religious and scholastic pur- 
poses and, of necessity, for defense. The well dug by 
the padres is still there. 

In 1778, Padre Juan Morfi refers to Mission Purisma 
Concepcion, stating that it was founded by the Fathers 
from the College of the Holy Cross at Queretero. He 
further says : " It is controlled today by the College of 
Zacatecas, to whom the Queretaran Fathers turned over 
their missions in Texas in order to give all their atten- 
tion to those of La Pimera (Upper Sonora and Arizona.) 
All of the missions on the San Antonio River are built 
after the same plan and governed by the same system. 
The one of Avhich we are speaking is situated upon the 
road that leads from the Mission of San Antonio (de 
Valero) to that of San Jose, on fine land, and is con- 
structed with the same admirable proportions as the 
other missions. The houses of the Indians form a closed 
square with those of the ministers and with the Church. 
The Church is very beautiful and worthy of a large 
population. It has been constructed with arches of 
rough sandstone, there being an abundant quarry at the 
gate of the courtyard. The sacristy is well supplied 
with ornaments and sacred vessels, and in every respect 
the Church is properly adorned. The priests' house is 
low, with arched roofs, and conveniently partitioned. 
The mission is ministered to by Fathers Fray Francisco 
Lopez and Fray Mariano Vazconceles. " 

The Church of this mission is the best preserved of 
ail tlie mission Churches of Texas. It fronts due west, 
is built in the form of a cross with the "twin towers" 
forming tw;» wings at the foot of the cross, and is grand 
and imposing. The arched stone roof is composed of 

—108-^ 



a series of arches; and over the chancel a beautiful Moor- 
ish dome rises graceful in outline though massive and 
plain. The choir loft is intact and is entered from 
the outside, on the south side of the Church. The 
choir loft of this Church is a duplicate of the Church 
of the Alamo, except that the latter was entered from, 
the north side by way of the gallery of the main build- 
ing of the mission, or Alamo Fort. The acoustics of 
this Church are perfect, and the singing by the little 
orphan boys from the orphanage near by, when special 
services are held there, is wonderfully sweet and ef- 




A Corner in the Sacristy. 



fective. The general design of this Church is identical 
with that of the Church of the Alamo, except that here 
the sacristy is on the south side while that of the Church 
of the Alamo is on the north. The square and barracks 
have entirely disappeared, but the part of the arcaded 
residence of the fathers' remaining is most interesting. 
The refectory, or library with its beautifully arched 

—109— 



ceilings and its deep recessed shelves, still shows the 
decoration of the ancient days. 

In the sacristy now are many objects of interest; the 
lavatory, the quaint cabinet in the thick walls, the crude 
and curious old candlesticks, and other articles of the 
long ago. 

The stairway leading to the cellar, back of the 
sacristy, tradition says, led passed underground store 
rooms, through a subterranean passageway to the 
river. The old and artistic stone stairs leading to the 
rooms above the sacristy, the conch shaped doorway and 
unique windows of those rooms are worth a close in- 
spection, as is also the front door of the Church. 

''The uper part of the ornamented facade is not an 
arch but a simple triangle and the arch of the doorway 
is, for want of a better definition, a divided polygon. In 
the division or center of the arch is a shield witli arms 
and devices, and here and there on the portal facade 
are cross and scroll, and carved relief pillars at the 
sides ornamented with carved lozenges."* In angular 
spaces over the archway is the legend: "ASV PAT- 
RONA, Y PRINCESSA ESTA MISSION, Y CON 
ESTAS ARMAS, ATIENDE EL PVNTO DE SV 
PVRENZA." This Mission's patroness and princess, 
with these arms maintain (or uphold) the state (or fact^ 
of her purity. Over this winds, circling in and out, 
the flagellum or knotted, scourge of the order of St. 

Francis, realistically carv^ed These 

are again surmounted with other designs, and above all 
on the summit of the facade is a stone bearing the date 
1794, and immediately underneath this is a shield with 
the. initials, ^^ meaning, "Ave ^Maria." The only 
stained glass in all the Missions is the panes of two lit- 
tle windows each side of the upper part of the facade. 
The front of the ■Mission Concepcion must have been 
very gorgeous with color, for it was frescoed all over 
with red and blue quatrefoil crosses of different pat- 

*Wm. Corner, in Son Antonio de Bexar, Christmas, 1890. 
—110— 



tern and with large yellow and orange squares to sim- 
ulate great dressed stones. This frescoing is rapidly 

disappearing The topmost roofs of the 

towers are pyramidical and of stone, with smaller corner 
pyramidal cap-stones. The upper stories of the towers 
have each four lookout windows of plain Roman arches. 
The tops of the side walls of the Church and the circle 
wall of the central dome hav^ wide stone serrations in 
the Moorish character, the points of which around the 
finely proportioned dome stand out like canine teeth. 




Baptismal Bowl in Baptistry. 

The towers have belfries, and at their bases, on either 
side of the entrance are on the right, a baptistry 11x11 
feet with massive thick walls, and on the left a similar 

small chamber The baptistry 

walls are frescoed with weird looking designs, dim and 
faded, of the Crucifixion and Los Dolores . . . . . 
A semi-circular font projects from the south wall, its 
half bowl carved with what appears to be a symbolical 
figure with outstretched arms supporting the rim. It is 

—111— 



a rude piece of carving, but is artistic. Inside, the stone 
roof of the chapel with its series of arches and central 
dome, is massive but plain. In each wing of the cross 
are altars or altar places. In the west is a choir loft."* 
On October 28, 1835, this mission was the scene of an 
engagement between the Texans under Colonels Fannin 
and Bowie and Cos' troops, in which the former, though 
far outnumbered were victorious. The fighting took 
place on the river bank fronting the mission. The Texas 
troops were quartered here for a while at this period, 
and in 1849, the United States troops occupied it. It 
is said that the latter cleared the chapel of an immense 
amount of accumulated rubbish and bat guano. Bishop 
Neraz further cleaned it up and re-devoted it to Church 




purposes, dedicating it to Our Lady of Lourdes on 
May 2, 1887. 

It is said that Santa Anna expected to find the Texans 
at Mission Concepcion instead of at the Alamo, in 1836, 
as he considered M&ssion Concepcion far superior as a 
stronghold. "In the holes in the Avails outside are to 
be found the nesting places of owls, pigeons, doves and 
other birds. To the south of the Chapel, westerly, are 
a series of arches which were formerly cells, chambers 
and cloisters for the Mission inmates .... To 

*Wm. Corner, in San Antonio de Bexar, Christmas, 1890. 

—112— 




—113— 



the south forming a wing easterly are other buildings 
probably the sacristy, superior's vestries and quarters, 
these have two stories, the upper being approached by a 
stone stair-case. The square of this mission at this date, 
can very hardly be defined, but that the Mission was 
situated in the southeastern corner of a ramparted 

square is without doubt On April 10, 

1794, the lands of Mission Concepcion were partitioned 
in a similar manner to those of the Alamo ^lission, among 
its Indian dependents, setting aside certain portions of 
the land for the payment of government taxes. This 
was done by order of the viceroy. . . . The names 
. . . . may be found in . ... our County 
Records. There were 38 souls at that time in the Mis- 
sion community, namely 16 men, 12 married women, 1 
boy, 6 girls and 3 widows. In 1805 a census showed 
41 souls." 

A very interesting Spanish document was preserved 
by Father Bouchu, whose heading when translated 
reads : ' ' This is the Inventory of the four Mission 
Churches situated in the neighborhood of the City of 
San Fernando de Bexar, made by order of the Superiors, 
and conveying the said Churches to the Ecclesiastical 
Ordinary of this Diocese of Nuevo Reino de Leon on the 
29th day of February, 1824." This is signed: 

''FRANCISCO ]\IAYNES, 
Chaplain of the Ancient Company of Bexar 

and Parish Priest of this Church. 

FRAY JOSE ANTONIO DIAZ DE LEON, 

Provisional President of these Missions, 

commisionado al ef ecto. ' ' 

The inventory shows how well supplied these Mission 
Churches were with precious vestments, sacred vessels 
and other Church articles. Some of the articles men- 
tioned as belonging to the INIission Concepcion are as fol- 
lows :" Fifteen vestments, nine statues, two silver candle- 
sticks, one silver crucifix, two pairs of silver cruets with 
plates, one silver bell for the altar, (This bell has dis- 

—114— 



appeared, Senor Cura Don Refugio de la Garza is re- 
sponsible for it.) one silver censer and boat." There 
were other articles in gold, and 182 more in the inventory 
than those already specified. The inventory just re- 
ferred to is very careful to state that ''the large bell 
in the Church of Bexar, (San Fernando,) belongs to 
the Church of Mission Concepcion." Mission Concep- 
cion was completed in twenty-one years, in 1752. 







This Mission is built of stone laid in mortar mixed, tradition 
says, with fresh milk of cows, goats, etc. The stone was quarried 
"at the gate." A. is arch, P.. is baptistry, D. .is door, T. is?>a room 
under left tower. The shaded part is in ruins. The river is about 
one-quarter mile towards the west. 

In order to guard it the Monastery had a stone wall with three 
gateways, as well as two bronze cannons of an eight ounce calibre, 
with a weight of 3 arrobas S libras. (83 lbs each.i ■'Ai)untes para 
la Historia Antigua de Coahuila y Texas." Esteban L. Portillo, 
p. 305. 

—115— 



LEGENDS OF MISSION DE NUESTRA SENORA 
DE LA PURISIMA CONCEPCION DE ACUNA. 



The true story of the building of this mission runs aa 
follows: When the rock had been quarried, and the 
foundation of the Church was to be laid, the priest 
assembled the Indian workers, and addressed them. 
He explained to them how this mission and churclr were 
to be erected in honor of the Holy Virgin IMother of 
God, who was without sin, and as a tribute to her purity 
the mortar should be mixed each day with fresh pure 
milk. So, the obedient and reverent Indian women and 
children came each morning bearing their cheerful bur- 
dens of snowy white milk from their cows and goats 
depriving themselves to honor Mary, most pure and 
immaculate that the desire of the Father might be ful- 
filled. 

The mortar thus welded together has proven as strong 
as brass, and as hard as adamant. It has defied the cor- 
roding tooth of time, and is more difficult to cleave than 
the stones which binds it together. Bishop Neraz related 
that when in 1890 he wished to have some repairs made 
in the tower which necessitated the removal of a large 
block, the mortar had so solidly welded together the 
rocks that mallet and chisel were used, as in cutting a 
block of the hardest marble. 

Few works on this continent have been more enduring 
than this, where savage hands and trusting hearts 
obeyed the behest of devotion. 

A legend conected with this mission is in keeping 
with the spirit of the time and place. It is thus related 
by Mrs. Lee C. Harby: 

''The legend runs that one day in the early part of 
the year when the neophytes were all beyond the mission 
walls, laboring in the fields preparing for the planting 
of their crops, a priest went up into the tower to pray 
without interruption, at the same time to keep watch 
for the advent of the "wild tribes" which were apt to 

—116— 



make a foray upon the peaceful Indians, capture their 
implements and kill or carry off as many of the workers 
as possible. For a time he kept his ward but no signs 
of danger were noticed; gradually his attention became 
riveted upon his book. Some time elapsed when, upon 
again looking out, he was horrified to see the Comanches 
coming down at full ride upon his unsuspecting people. 
Excitedly he clanged the bell in notes of warning, and 
rushing down the stairs reported what he had seen afar 
off. His superior was in a quandry — should he throw 
the gates wide so that the fleeing throng of Indians 
counld enter and be in safety? If he should do that, 
then the hordes so close in pursuit and gaining at every 
step, would rush in with them and as there were no 
soldiers within for 'their defence nothing w^ould be 
gained; and all would be slaughtered, — priestly teacher 
as well as Indian convert. How could he leave the poor 
red men shut without, at the mercy of the relentless 
savages ? Then he knelt and prayed to the dear Mother 
in whose honor this mission had been established that 
she would interpose in their behalf, asking that she 
would vouchsafe a sign as to what should be done. As 
he prayed the pious father glanced up at the statue of 
the Virgin which surmounting the great gates, looked 
ever calmly outward at the far stretching prairies. Lo, 
as he looked in his agony of supplication, the great 
statue turned upon its pedestal and revolving slowly, 
faced inward, gazing down as with a gracious benedic- 
tion upon the priest kneeling there. He saw and took 
it as a sign: The gates were thrown wide and just in 
time. In rushed the Mission Indians and at their very 
heels the terrible Comanches followed, even up to tlie 
very lintel, but there they paused held by some unknown 
power. They did not cross the threshold; the heavy 
gates closed and those who believed were saved! Then 
the bell — this very bell* — rang out its jubilee calling all 
to a prayer of praise for the miraculous intervention 
and mercy." 

*One of tVte bells is now in possession of a Texas Historical 
Society, at Galveston. 

—117— 




Front View of Mission San Juan tie Capistrano. 

Mission San Juan de Capistrano. 



IMission San Juan de Capistrano, six miles below San 
Antonio was founded in east Texas among the Nazones, 
in 1716, under the title of San Jose de los Nazones. It 
was transferred to the San Antonio on the left or east 
])ank of the river in 1730, and given the name of San 
Juan de Capistrano as there was already a San Jose in 
the vicinity. The name of San Juan, was bestowed in 
honor of Saint John ;. and de Capistrano, in honor of a 
noted friar of the Franciscan order, born in 1386. The 
mission was begun Mlarch 5, 1731, on the day of the 
completion of San Jose. 

The pathetic history of Mission Nuestra Senora de 
Guadalupe, Mission San Francisco de los Neches, and 
of iMission Concepcion between 1716-1730 is in the main 
the history of the early d'lys of JMission San Juan de 
Capistrano when under the title of IMission San Jose de 
los Nazones. 

IMission San Juan de Capistrano is still of interest to 
visitors with its Chapel, its walled square, its mission 
well, largo gates and some graceful portions of the con- 

—118— 



vent and industrial school with its circular rose window 
A Church oi' pleasing design with a campanile or bell 
tower on its soutliwest corner was begun, but it is not 
certain that the edifice was ever finished or m use, but 
there was enough of it remaining when viewed by the 
writer to prove that its destruction was a distinct loss 
To the arcWteeture of the country, as it df ered m 
s?vle froili all the others. The Chapel is small and was 
wonderfully frescoed in gorgeous colors. It is a narrow 
rectangle, with a bell tower; the latter is merely an 




Candlesticks, Missalstaiul, etc., at Mission b, 



lu Juan. 



Old Statues, 

elevation of a portion of the east wall at the north end 

to the elements in thl roofless Chapel, was so badly 
ruiiied that it was impossible to restore it, and it was 
deemed useless to save what remained. 
—119— 




Mexican Huts near San Juan Mission. 

This mission while not so grand or imposing as some 
of the rest has served, better than the others, to give a 
general idea of the plan of a complete mission; with 
its walled square, granary, chapel. Church, well, fields 
and gardens; living rooms, cells and offices for the 
missionaries; quarters, work-rooms, and school rooms 
for the Indian neophytes; kitchens and refectories, 

The main buildings, .unlike the main buildings of the 
Missions of the Alamo, Concepcion, and San Jose, form 
part of, and are built into the boundary or rampart 
walls. It is said that in the vicinity of San Juan I\Iis- 
sion there are more traces of the Indian in features and 
characteristics than anywhere else in the interior of 
Texas. 

In relation to the frescoing in the Chapel of this mis- 
sion. Fatlier Bouchu of Mission Espada, who was an 
enthusiastic admirer of the missions aud a devoted priest 
who sacrificed his life to the people about the lower 
missions and in the settlements of that section, gave it 

—120— 




Side View of Mission San Juan de Capistrauo. 

as his opinion that the frescoing was of later date than 
the completion of the Chapel and "was permitted to 
satisfy the Indian nature's love of color." 

Mir. William Corner, gave a full description of the 
frescoing as he saw it in 1890, and as the writer does 
not believe it could be better done quotes it herewith: 
"The frescoes are almost obliterated by exposure to the 
weather and the wonder is that they have not long since 
been washed entirely off by heavy rains. They are a 
curious mixture of Old and New World ideas. Detail 
of IMjoorish design, a Roman arch, an Indian figure and 
pigments. A painted rail about four feet high running 
around the Chapel first attracts the eye, then the elab- 
orately painted Roman Arch in red and orange, over 
the doorway. The design of this decoration is decidedly 
of a Moorish caste, zigzag strips and blocks of color with 
corkscrew and tile work, and pillars of red and orange 
blocks. These pillars are about twelve feet high and 
support another line or rail of color and upon this upper 
line is a series of figures of musicians each playing a 

—121— 



different instrument. The figures for some reason are 
much more indistinct than their instruments, the latter 
being accurately drawn and easy to distinguish. There 
is one of these figures over the frescoed arch of the door. 
It is a mandolin player. The player is indistinct, port- 
tions of his chair and instrument plainer, the latter can 
be made out to be of dark brown color with the finger 
board and keys, red. To the right of him is a violin 
player, the best preserved sample of all— the violm 
and bow are quite distinct, so are the features of the 
face of the figure, his hair is black, lips red, face and 
legs orange, feet black, the body of the violin orange, 
the rest of him and the bow red. To the right of him 
again is a guitar player dressed in a bluish color, sit- 
ting in a red chair, the instrument is quite distinct. 
Directly opposite this figure vis a vis is a viol player; 
the instrument being held by the player, finger board 
up, from the left shoulder across the body ; head, hands, 
instrument and bow being distinct, but the body of him 
is 'played out.' To the right of this ghostly looking 
viol player is a harp and a chair— but the player is 
either invisible or vanished. The lower rail, which is 
the much more elaborate of the two, supports here and 
there a flower pot and flowers in incongruous colors 
of bluish green and dull red— carnations and roses being 
prime favorites, with an occasional cross on a painted 
pedestal or dado." 

There is no record of the partition of the lands about 
this mission among the Indians, but if Indians remained, 
they were doubtless given lands. However, at all the 
missions some were left as care takers and in many 
instances the younger and later generations, nothing 
loath perhaps, were induced to l)elieve by unscrupulous 
persons that the property was theirs and to dispose of 
it for various ridiculous sums, from a pair of boots to 
a few dollars, and the so-called purchasers recorded^ it 
as a bona fide sale, when at that date the older and in- 
telligent natives and settlers of the country must have 
known that the care-takers had no right to so dispose 
of the property. Some of the care-takers really thought 



-122 



that they were merely trading occupancy — having no 
idea they were expected to convey a title. Others were 
likely glad to take advantage of the letter of the law. 
One of the records shows that Maria de los Santos Lopez 
and Barbara de los Santos Lopez conveyed to the Prov- 
ince of Texas three rooms which they were then occupy- 
ing, in Mission San Juan for the sum of $34.00, on 
January 28, 1826. This sum was paid to them by the 
Chief Justice Antonio Saucedo. What the story back 
of it is not known. It is a matter of record however, 
that the Republic of Texas recognized the title of the 
Catholic Church to all the missions and their Churches 
and returned them to that body in 1841. 

On the road to the Mission of San Francisco, some 
distance beyond the IVBssion of San Juan, is the in- 
teresting old fern covered acqueduct over the Piedra 
Creek, built to convey water from the San Antonio 
Eiver to the Mission and lands of San Francisco de la 
Espada. The building of this acqueduct is considered 
quite a feat of engineering skill. 




—123- 




Grouiul Plan of Mission San Juan. ^ 

D is door, W. window, dotted lines show old and tinned walls. 
Granary is partly in ruin. The river is to the west about 100 yards 
flowing in a southerly direction. 

—124— 



A LEGEND OF THE MISSIONS. 

LEE C. HARBY, in New Orleans Times-Democrat. 

Here the San Antonio River 
Swiftly courses on forever; 
Here the mocking birds sweet singing 
Sets the mesquite copses ringing; 
Here December's sunshine golden 
Falls upon the missions olden, 
Penetrating dim recesses. 
Lighting with its warm caresses 
Altars where no priest is praying ; 
But the lizard brown is straying 
In and out of crack and jointing, 
While the cross, whose first anointing 
Was in tears and bitter sorrow. 
From the sunbeams seems to borrow 
Something more than earthly glory. 
Round the altar reverent gather. 
Then it is some ghostly Father, 
Gliding to the ruined tower 
At this solemn midnight h'our. 
Sets the rusty bells a swinging — 
And the music of its ringing 
Sounds into the ears of dead men, 
Calling from their graves the red men. 

Thence they come in noiseless trooping. 
In the chancel thickly grouping, 
Indian warrior, wife and maiden. 
Soon the air is heavy laden 
With the smoke from censers swinging, 
While the priests are slowly bringing 
Forth the symbol of their Master. 
Peals the bell now louder, faster. 
From the ancient mission's tower; 
Miany voices rise and lower 
In an anthem grandly swelling 
Faith of priest and convert telling. 
Held on high the Host is glowing. 
All its golden glory showing 

—125— 



By the lights which gleam and falter 
On the quaint and carven altar. 
While the clouds of incense quiver 
Stirred by breezes from the river, 
Once again the bell's slow pealing 
Sounds above the people kneeling 
Penitent, their sins confessing, 
Bowed beneath the Father's blessing! 

Who can tell the thrilling story 
Of the missions' slow uprearing? 
Of privation, toil and fearing 
Borne by these Franciscan friars — 
Abnegation of desires, 
Sacrifice of every pleasure. 
Spending all of life's best treasure 
For the glory of their calling? 
Now the dust of time is falling 
O'er the graves unknown and lowly, 
In the missions' confines holy 
All the years in silence sleeping; 
But when night is slowly creeping 
To tlie birth of Christmas morning, 
As the stroke of twelve gives warning 
They, from every tomb appearing, 
Still their priestly vestments Avearing. 
Fades the brilliance from the mission. 
And a subtle, strange transition 
Passes o'er the people praying — 
'Tis a change like to the swaying 
Of the mist clouds o'er the ocean — 
For with neither sound nor motion 
Every form fades into spirit, 
Back to all they may inherit, 
Silent grave and restful sleeping! 
And the gray dawn comes a-creeping, 
While the ghostly bell is sighing ; 
Wierdly wail its last notes, dying — 
Not an echo even waking — 
For the Christmas morn is breaking ! 
—126— 




Mission San Joseph y San Miguel 
de Aguayo. 



Mission San Jose de Aguayo, the grandest and most 
beautiful of the missions of Texas, is situated about four 
miles below the city of San Antonio, not far from the 
San Antonio River, or as the old records say, ''one 
league from the presidio of San Antonio de Bexar." 

It was named in honor of Saint Joseph, and to com- 
pliment a kind friend, the governor and Captain-General 
of the New Philippines and Nueva Estramadura, San 
Miguel de Aguayo was added to it. 

It was founded by Father Miguel Nuiiez de Avo, under 
the direction of the Venerable Anthony Margil, who, 
while waiting at ^lission San Antonio de Valero to join 
the expedition of the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo 
to return to East Texas, decided upon a mission for the 
Pamposas, Suliejames and Pastias Indians thereabouts. 
Father IMargil wrote to Aguayo, who was then preparing 
for his entrada into Texas, telling him of his plans and 
wishes for the mission. Aguayo approved the foun- 

—127— 



dation and provided that the customary aid be given to it. 
Considerable opposition to the foundation of the 
mission was aroused, as the Indians mentioned above 
were bitter enemies of the Indians at the ]\Iission San 
Antonio de Valero and it was thought that the mission 
as proposed was too close to the villa of Bexar and 
Mission San Antonio de Valero for such rival tribes. 
On February 23, 1720, a petition ''signed by the 
alcalde, all the cahilcio, and Father Olivares of Mission 
San Antonio de Valero, was presented to Juan Valdez, 
lieutenant general and alcalde major of the presidio 
and villa of Bexar," asking him not to give pos- 
session of the lands to the missionaries of the College 
of Zacatecas for the founding of the mission; stating 
that in the first place all the land in the vicinity had 
already been given to the College of Queretero for their 
Indians, but aside from that fact that the Indians for 
whom the mission of San Jose was designed were ''ab 
initio" enemies of the Indians at Mission San Antonio 
de Valero, and trouble was sure to result and not only 
ruin the work of the missions but involve the whole com- 
munity. 

It was impossible for Valdez to refuse possession of 
the lands to the new mission as he had orders from his 
superior officers to see that the new foundation re- 
ceived its proper quota, so the petition was without re- 
sults. He arranged for the survey of the property and 
in\ated the missionaries of both colleges to be present 
at the formal giving of possession of the lands to the 
Fathers of the College of Zacatecas for Mission San 
Joseph y San Miguel de Aguayo, and detailed Captain 
Alonzo de Cardenas and his company of eighty men, 
his sergeant, Nicholas Flores y Valdez, and Captain 
Lorenzo Garcia to be present as witnesses. The show 
of arms was likely, not only a part of the formalities, 
but was also probably intended to overawe the new 
Indian wards and incline them to docility and peace. 

It is a matter for regret that the earliest records of 
Mission San Jose have so far not been found. A book 

—128 



tierros, pertenecientas a Mission de Sr. Sn. Josef is still 
in existence and contains records beginning in the latter 
part of 1777. 

The baptisms begin September 1777, and extend to 
1824. The entries begin with No. 832, and extend to 
1211. The first book, which has disappeared, evidently 
contained 831 entries. 1067 of the baptisms recorded 
in the existing book were entered before the end of 1803. 
After this date most of the baptisms were performed 
for Spaniards, mestizos* and mulattoes. 

The marriage entries cover the years 1778 to 1822. 
The first entry is No. 335, showing No. 334 to have been 
contained in the first book. 395 marriages were recorded 
by the end of 1796. Very few records after this date 
were of Indians. 

The burial records are for the years 1781 to 1824. 
The first entry is No. 847 and the last one No. 1837. 
After 1804, there were few burials of Indians, showing 
as do the other records the presence of Spaniards, mes- 
tizos, and mulattoes, in the pueblo, but almost no Indians. 

The day of the completion of Mission San Jose 
March 5, 1731, was celebrated by the laying of the cor- 
nerstones of IMassions La Purisima Concepcion de 
Acufia, San Juan de Capistrano, and San Francisco de 
la Espada, in the valley of the San Antonio. 

Mission San Jose, at the height of its activity was 
wonderfully prosperous and, in fact, was said to have 
had ''no equal in all New Spain." It was the residence 
of the Presidents of the Texas missions, and this famous 
''pearl of the missions" was visited by all the prominent 
people who came to the Province of Texas in those days. 

Captain Don Rafael Martinez Pacheco, a prominent 
figure in Texas in 1764, refugeed for a time at Mission 
San Jose, and created no little stir, as he had had quite 
a serious disagreement with the then governor of the 
Province. Captain Pike visited San Jose in 1807, and 

♦Mestizo seems to denote the offspring of a Spanish father and 
an Indian m other. 

—129— 



SCULPTURED FACADE 

D 




Ground Plan of Mission San Jos6. 
Minature Plan. Tlu' dotted lines represent arches or abutments 
for arches. The shaded part is the wall that fell in Dec. 1868. 
D. is door. W. window. The front walls are 5 feet thick .other 
3 1-2 and 2 1-2 feet. Material, istone laid in mortar, quarried .it 
Mission Conception. The river, running south of east is about 
3-4 of a mile to the north. 

—130— 



gives an interesting description of his visit. 

The last President was Padre Jose Antonio Diaz de 
Leon, who was assassinated in east Texas in 1834. 

The famous historian, Padre Juan IMorfi, who accom- 
panied the first commandant general, Don Theodore de 
Croix to Texas, in 1778, gives a very interesting de- 
scription of Mission San Jose as follows : ' ' San Jose de 
Aguayo, which is situated a little more than half a league 
from the preceding one, (IMjission la Purisima Concep- 
.cion) has from its erection been under the care of the 
fathers of the College of Zacatecas. It is truly the 
finest mission in this America and might well be called 
the queen of all the others; nor has the king in all his 
line of forts a better constructed or more easily defended 
stronghold. It forms a very beautiful plaza two hun- 
dred and sixteen varas square, with four uniform gates 
on each of the four sides. A bastion has been erected 
at each of these gates in order to defend them, and em- 
brasures have been made so that the guns may be fired 
from shelter in case the gates are stormed. Besides all 
this, opposite the Church there is a fifth gate which may 
be raised. It is the one most commonly used and opens 
out on a great plain which was cleared of timber in order 
to prevent the enemy from surprising the mission. In 
short, it is so well fortified, that even if the Indians 
were able to begin a siege, they would gain nothing by 
it, as the mission has within its granaries enough pro- 
visions to last a year and plenty of good water in its 
wells. The Church which is almost finished is a large 
and handsome structure with three arches and a very 
pretty cupola, although decorated with bold carvings. 
From its size and beauty it might well be the parish 
Church of a large city. 

"The whole building is well proportioned and con- 
structed of very strong calicanto (mixture of lime and 
gravel) and a rough, sand granite, very light and porous, 
which in a few days solidifies with the mixture, and is 
therefore very suitable for building purposes. It is se- 
cured from the quarry of Concepcion Mission. The 

—131— 




t. <- 



"V 




:/ " 




ii 


Wi 








^^^^ 



Carved Front of the Church of Mission San Job6. 
—132— 



facade is a very costly piece of work on account of the 
statuary and engraving on it. It is formed of a white 
stone easily carved. Above the main door a large bal- 
cony was built, and it would have a more majestic ap- 
pearance if a door had been made to correspond to the 
window whicli gives light for the choir. No one would 
believe that such delicate workmanship could be found 
in such a desert. This proves how much these people 
can accomplish, and the advantages that would be de- 
rived by the State if they were disciplined, their talents 
put to use, and their laziness cured in an effective 
manner. 

"The residence of the fathers is of two stories, with 
two very spacious corridors. The upper one leads to 
the roof (azotea), which gives them great pleasure. 
There they have erected two vertical quadrants, very 
well constructed out of a chalky stone of much con- 
sistency, but so soft that when it is taken from the mine 
it may be worked with a plane like wood. When ex- 
posed to the air it acquires a polish that is very much 
like marble. The railing of the stairs is of the same 
kind of stone, as well as a statue of Saint Joseph, which 
has been placed in a niche at the landing. The railing 
has been made very beautiful owing to the ease witli 
which this stone may be carved. 

''From the roof one may hunt without danger, with 
ease, and with great success; for I saw in a near-by 
field so many ducks, geese and cranes, that they cov- 
ered the ground and were so near the house that it 
would be impossible to miss them. There are enough 
rooms for the fathers and for the use of guests. Be- 
sides the general offices of the mission, there are private 
ones for the fathers, as well as a capacious and well 
arranged kitchen, a refectory, etc. There is also an 
armory, where the guns, bows and lances are kept with 
which the Indians of the mission are armed, when in 
case of an attack or when a campaign is organized they 
are utilized as auxiliaries. There are large, well-built 
stables, although they are little used, owing to the cruel 

—133— 



custom prevalent throughout all this country of putting 
the horses in the fields at all times of the year. The 
sacristy of the new Church, where all Divine services 
are held, has an entrance leading from the house of the 
fathers. It is an arched room, well lighted, very pretty, 
nicely decorated and well supplied with many rich and 




EAST DOOR, BAPIISTKY, SAN JOs£. 



decent ornaments, such as duplicates of sacred vessels 
required for all services. I repeat, that there is no mis- 
sion to equal it in all New Spain. It has reached such 
a flourishing state through the care of the Rev. Pedro 
Ramirez, of the College of Zacatecas, chief minister, 

—134— 



and President of all the missions of the Province of 
Texas." 

Mission San Jose is still worth travelling miles to see 
although the celebrated carvings on this mission have 
been ruined, and the entire structure more or less de- 
stroyed by relic hunters and other vandals. More dam- 
age has been done by these vandals than by all the acci- 
dents of war or the work of time and the elements. 
Kendall testifies, in 1842, as to the regard of the Texas 
troops for this work of art and that though they w^ere 
quartered there for some time they were so careful of 
the property that nothing was injured. 

Tradition of the oldest settlers gives Huicar as the 
name of the artist of San Jose. 

Corner truly says, ''The hand that chiseled the won- 
derful facade at the main entrance of the Church, the 
doorway, the w^indow and pillar capitals of the smaller 
chapel was one of marvelous cunning. The facade is 
rich to repletion with the most exquisite carving. Fig- 
ures of virgins and saints with drapery that looks like 
drapery, cherubs, heads, sacred hearts, ornate pedestals 
and recesses with their conch-like canopies, and cornices 

wonderful The window above the 

archway is a simple wreath of acanthus-like curves and 
conchoids of surpassing workmanship. The south win- 
dow of the baptistry is considered by good judges to be 
the finest gem of architectural ornamentation existing 
in America today. Its curves and proportions are a per- 
petual delight to the eye, and often as the writer has 
seen and examined it, it is of that kind of art which 
does not satiate, but ever reveals some fresh beauty in 
line or curve." Its ''reja" or wrought iron grating 
should be particularly noted. 

The walled square of this mission has entirely dis- 
appeared. The roof and one side of the great Church 
has fallen, but the beautiful front, the graceful arcades 
of the residence of the fathers, the towers, the baptistry 
chapel, or sacristy with its serrated enclosing walls and 
triple domed roof, and the large granary with flying 

—135— 




SOUTH WINDOW 



riSTKY, MISSIiiN SAN JOsfi. 



buttresses and stone arched roof, still remains. These 
with the well, store rooms, refectory, kitchen, almoner's 
room with its window, ''of the voices," the kitchen, 
cells, and corridors are a delight to antiquarian and 
student. 

Some of the walls were frescoed, in red, blue and 
yellow, in pretty designs, but little of this is now visible. 

The belfry tower is about sixty feet high. It has 
four lookout windows and a pyramidical stone roof. 
The unique circular tower built for the winding stair- 

—136— 




1. Side View Mission Sau Jose. 2. Lavatory iu Baptistry. 
3, and 4, Pillar Capitals. 5. Panel of Baptistry Door. 

—137— 



way, of solid hewn steps of heart oak, leading to the 
second story of the tower was placed in the angle made 
by the belfry tow^er and the south wall of the Church. 
From the second story leading to the upper lookout of 
the tower are peculiar stairways or ladders, curiously 
notched, made of solid cedar trunks or branches and 
dressed and hewn with an axe. 

One stormy night in December, 1868, a large part of 
the north wall of the Church with the beautiful dome 
and cupola fell in with a great crash, a result of the 
work of treasure hunters who had a few days before 
undermined the wall. A number of persons imagined 
that there were valuables buried about the mission and 
for many decades after Texas became a State of the 
Union, with the influx of new people there were nat- 
urally many undesirables. Some of these made exca- 
vations in and out and about Mission San Jose seeking 
these imaginary treasures. No valuables were ever 
found, but great damage w^as done to the buildings and 
walls by these idle and usually worthless fellows wlio 
dreamed of getting rich quick. The baptistry chapel, 
or sacristy, is entered now only by the east door through 
a wing of the cloisters. There is also a door entering 
from the Church on the north side, but this is now nailed 
up. This door has been entirely wrecked and carried 
off piecemeal. The arch and side stones of the east 
door are beautifully sculptured, and of the wonderfully 
carved cedar double doors enough still remains to give 
an idea of the beauty of the Church and mission in its 
palmy days. 

Services are still held in the little chapel occasionally. 
The wall behind the altar is decked with a hanging 
of patchwork of ]\liexican design ; and other attempts 
at beautifying ])y the simple folk therea])Out are in evi- 
dence. Tliere are three very old pictures that were 
])rought from Spain, and w^ere once valuable, they arc 
now mildewed, torn and ruined. One a picture of the 
Infant Saviour has been pronounced by good judges to 
be unmistakably, a Corregio. The others, "The Flight 

—138— 




—139- 



into Egypt," and "The Visit to Saint Elizabeth" when 
first seen by the writer were still beautiful. The fan- 
like fluted canopies of the south window and recesses 
are very effective. The cloisters and cells of two stories 
are quite extensive with a double series of arches. The 
outside arches are plain, wide, semi-circular arches. There 
are pointed Gothic arches inside and on the second 
floor. Part of the residence near the Church was once 
of three stories. The mission well is close to the kitchen, 
within the mission walls. The remains of irrigating 
ditches may still be seen throughout the valley and plain 
surrounding the mission. One ditch originally flowed 
close to the walls of the north and east sides. The north 




Granary of San Jose Mission. 

end of the granary is of two stories and was used as a 
dwelling, the upper story being entered by way of on« 
of those .peculiarly hewn, upright stairs, or ladders 
above described. 

Before the Civil War, in 1859, the Benedictines from 
St. Vincent's Abbey, Pennsylvania, hoped to establish 
at Mission San Jose a college and seminary. They made 
some few repairs, but the unsettled conditions of the 
country, and the mutterings of war caused them to 
hurry back to their home college and the project was 
abandoned. 

De Zavala Chapter, descendants of the heroes of 

—140— 



/RRI^^IiN^ DI TCH 




Ground Plan of Granary of Mission San Job6. 
F. Flying buttresses, material, rough stone laid in mortar, 
quarried' at Mission Coneepcion. The adobe wall is not part of 
the original. The river is toward the north. 

—141— 



Texas, have expended several liimdred dollars in re- 
pairs on this mission. They have propped up the beau- 
tiful front doorway to keep the arch from falling, re- 
paired the roof of the sacristy, and tried to retain all 
stones and woodwork in place. The De Zavala Daughters 
and the Texas Historic Landmarks Association have 
given much publicity to a call for funds for the mis- 
sions and hope later to be able to raise a fund to restore 
the circular tower and place in full repair this work of 
art, ]\Iission San Jose, or to inspire some one with both 
appreciation and funds to do so.* 



''THE WINDOWS OF THE VOICES," AT MISSION 
SAN JOSE. 

If you stand at the "windoAV of the voices" at the 
right time, and your ears and spirit are properly at- 
tuned, you will hear wonderful sounds and voices — as 
of an innumerable company — voices and steps! They 
seem close at hand and to reach out considerable dis- 
tance, and the retreating and advancing^ of sandaled 
and moccosined feet are plainly distinguished. And 
then, within the room, there is a movement to and from 
the window, and the voices are of different cadence. 
The latter seem to be directing and instructing, chiding 
and praising! Folk-tellers say that it is the voices of 
the Indians who lost their opportunity, but who through 
longing and desire have been permitted to return to live 
the life of obedience at the mission — and, of their good 
padres who have again voluntarily sacrificed themselves 
to aid them. Quien save ! It may be that it is a lesson 
to those of the present to let no opportunity be lost, 
for the uplift of their lives and the salvation of their 
souls. ''There are more things in heaven and earth, 
Horatio, than are dreamed of m your pliilosophy." Who 
knows ! 

♦Since this was written the Tlijrht Rev. .Tohn W. Shaw. Bishop 
of the diocese of San Antonio, and Rev. W. W. Hume, have been 
enabled to begin the repair of this mission throxigh a donation for 
tne purpose. 

—142— 



,^ 








A LEGEND OF THE BELLS OF 
MISSION SAN JOSE. 



Mission bells have many voices. 
When one of the Fathers sailed from 
Spain destined for the early Texas 
Missions, a near kinsman of his, 
young and nobly born, and full of 
ardent zeal, wished to accompany him 
and devote some service to God and 
King in the New World, and was 
accepted. Short service it must 
needs be, since Don Angel de Leon 
had plighted his faith to a beautiful 
and high born maiden of old Castile, 
and she had promised to become his 
wife on his return. Her memory 
gladdened his days of loneliness and 
hardship on the frontier. Time pass- 
ed and the days were fast rolling 




-143— 



on, when he should leave the land of Tejas to return to 
Spain. With the next expedition he was to return, 
but alas! it was not to be! A sudden raid by the 
Apaches, and Don Angel, the young and brave lieuten- 
ant, flying to the assistance of the mission soldiers, was 
laid low by a treacherous arrow. He was buried in con- 
secrated ground close to the walls of mission San Jose. 
Tears fell from all eyes at his loss, for he was a universal 
favorite. Poor Theresa, the maiden in Castile, watched 
the days until a galleon should return from the New 
World — for well she knew it would contain a message 
for her from the dear absent one. The good ship came, 
and, too, the letter came. She seized it joyfully and 
eagerly tore it open. Alas! it seemed as if the arroAV 
which had laid Don Angel low had pierced her heart. 
She swooned, and lay 'twixt life and death for weeks. 
The letter from the good Padre told the sorrowful tale 
of Don Angel's death. As the weeks passed she grew 
paler and feebler. Her friends tried to rouse her, but 
their efforts were unavailing. She prayed for tears, 
but she could not weep. She seemed as but a spirit 
ready to depart. At last news came that the Mission 
San Jose was completed, and but waited a chime of bells 
for the tower. The next day the bells were to be cast 
and sent to the New World. This news roused her, and 
she begged her friends to go with her to see the casting 
of the bells. A great throng had gathered to do honor 
to the bells of San Jose, and all waited for the moment 
when the molten mass should fill the molds and give 
birth to the bells. As Theresa reached the place, a sud- 
den inspiration seized her. From her finger she took 
the ring Don Angel had given her as a pledge of truth 
and devotion, and from her neck the golden cross he had 
hung there, and pausing before the molten mass,' with 
eyes of one looking into the far distance murmured sad- 
ly, ''Oh bells, you go to look upon the grave where my 
dear one lies. I would go, but cannot, since my days on 
earth are all too few. Take with you these treasured rel- 
ics of the one I love. It may be that when you softly ring 

—144— 



the Angelus for the first time above his far off grave, 
he will hear and know that I was faithful and loved 
him to the end. Take this message." Then she dropped 
the golden cross and ling into the furnace and passed 
out, not noting the throng and the bowed heads and 
weeping eyes of all the men and women present. She 
could not weep. 

A pious wave swept all present when she had passed 

''And they flung their ornaments, 

Silver and gold of rare device, gifts prized. 

And kept as heirlooms through long generations. 

While Ave Marias trembled on their lips, 

Into the matrix of the IMission Bells. 

What wonder that their voices are so sweet. 

Since they are sanctified by love and faith?" 

Theresa was seen no more save at church, and where 
the poor and lowly needed aid and sympathy — but all 
who saw her thought of angel spirits. One evening as she 
sat gazing on the last rays of the setting sun, thinking 
that those rays shone too upon her loved one's grave, 
she started, her pale face became wreathed with smiles 
of angelic sweetness. And her lips murmured: "The 
Bells, it is the Angelus! and Don Angel hears!" 

"And then her stainless spirit took its flight. 

And those who watched caught a dying strain, 

Of ravishing melody from golden harps. 

And song seraphic and divinely sweet, 

And then another letter came to Spain, ^ 

From yon mission whose white walls we see. 

It cold how on the day Theresa died 

The bells were baptized, and their silver tongue 

For the first time pealed out the Angelus.* 

A similar legend is told of San Gabriel :\Iission. California, and 

an extract of the beautiful poem by A. T. Hawley. in The Old 

Grape Vine and iVIission History, by Kate C. Bagly McCormick, 
is quoted herewith. 



-145- 




The Venerable Anthony Mnrgil. 

The Venerable Anthony Margil 



One of the most illustrious Franciscans around whose 
name cluster legends and romance is claimed by Texas 
Avith much pride, although IMexico City possesses his 
tomb. 

The Venerable Anthony IMargil, one of the earliest 
pioneers of Texas, founder of the early missions of San 
Antonio, and Texas, devoted his life to the uplifting of 

—146— 



his fellow men. He was author, philanthropist, teacher 
and founder of the first publie schools of San Antonio 
and Texas, industrial, agricultural and literary. 

The pupils were taught all useful industries. They 
were also taught to read, write, spell, sing, draw, carve 
and everything of use in that day, for which they 
showed aptitude. They w^ere likewise taught to labor 
and to have respect for labor, whether of hand or brain. 
''Honor and shame from no condition rise, 
Act well your part, there all the honor lies." 
Anthony jM'argil was born in Valencia, Spain, August 
18, 1657. He joined the Franciscans at an early age, 
and soon became noted for his eloquence and charity, 
but caring not for renown, he asked permission of his 
Superior to go to Spain. This permission he obtained 
and setting sail arrived at Vera Cruz June 6th, 1683. 
His admirers protested that a man of his talents 
would be wasted in the New World, but men were 
needed who "should brave the savagery of the Indians, 
dare their treachery, love them even in their unlova- 
bleness. and thus lead them into the fold of the Church." 
IMargil heard the call and answered, "Here am I!" He 
was athirst for great deeds, full of bravery and heroism, 
and love of humanity, with a great capacity for sacrifice 
He would not stand by to listen for the applause 
of the civilized world, and let some untried, untrained 
young priest go out to the degraded savages! The 
greater the need and danger, the greater the necessity 
for speed, power, earnestness and inspiration in the 
one who should go to them. So leaving the Avorld to 
its vain applause, society and its pettiness, civilization 
and its comforts, casting all these things behind him, 
Margil joyfully and yet seriously started out to serve 
the savages of the New World. 

He had scarcely reached his destination at Quere- 
taro, when he began his apostolic labors, choosing for 
his work the poorest sections. He walked barefooted 
over the rougest and most dangerous parts of Yucatan, 

—147— 



Tabasco, Chiapas, Suconusco, and going even as far 
as Guatamala, reaching the latter place Sept. 21, 1685. 

The people of California stress the wonderful labors 
and long journeys on foot of Padre Junipero Serra, 
but Texas could perhaps, prove far more wonderful 
deeds and labors accomplished by Padre Margil if they 
were more familiar with his life. 

One old writer says : ' ' In examining the forgotten 
pages of our chronicles, we experience a feeling of ad- 
miration for the self-sacrificing deeds and great acts 
of all the early religious who, like Anthony Margil, 
sought to save the souls of the Indians, and we are often 
profoundly moved by the zeal and earnestness which 
caused them to regard as of no consideration the an- 
guish, loneliness and suffering which they endured in 
this wild country. Anthony Margil passed through 
the desert carrying for his sustenance a little cooked 
corn, and this scant nourishment often failing, he was 
obliged to try palmitos, which was the only edible thing 
in that barren region. Usually, in this part of the 
country, the appearance of a missionary, in the view 
of the savage hordes, was the signal for a discharge 
of stones, and arrows. But these good Fathers did not 
hesitate, for their fervent love for souls and their un- 
selfish, self-sacrificing spirit made them the more anx- 
ious to persevere in order to bring the light of God's 
love to those benighted untutored hearts, and they were 
consoled if in return for sacrifices, weariness, hunger 
and suffering of all sorts, they saved one soul. 

Father Margil was made President of the College of 
Santa Cruz de Queretaro March 11th, 1687. On July 
25th, 1706, he was called to found the College of Guad- 
alupe de Zacatecas, of which he was also made Pres- 
ident. ' 

In his College and at all times where possible. Father 
Margil walked barefooted, without sancjals, fasted 
every day in the year, never used meat or fish, and 
applied the discipline as well as other instruments of 

—148— 



penance to himself unmercifully. He slept little, 
passed the greater part of the night in prayer, as well 
as also the time allotted for the siesta. 

Aftr years of experience with the Indiauis, upon 
being questioned by the Royal Audiencia as to what 
methods he thought most efficacious in civilizing the 
wild tribes, he replied, "That which seems to me most 
proper for the introduction of Christ's sweet evangeli- 
cal Gospel and to carry out the plans that His Majesty 
has established by law to convert and reduce the wild 
tribes, is to teach them the Gospel truths and right 
living, always by the sweetness of persuasion and good 
example. I intend to set forth with only one com- 
panion, without escort or arms, provided I be conceded 
by the authorities ample faculty to pardon any In- 
dians I may find, who have been prosecuted for any 
crime, and to assure any fleeing slaves that they shall 
not receive from my hands any punishment that does 
not comport with my mission of peace and pity." This 
power being conceded to him, he began his journey for 
the sierra, some Indian guides preceding him. He ar- 
rived at an Indian rancheria May 21, 1711. "When 
the Indians saw him, they made threats and a terrible 
clamor trying to turn him back. When this failed, a 
party of thirty or more Indians all painted with carbon, 
carmine and other tints, all armed with bows, arrows, 
machetes and other weapons, came down from the 
mountain near them, and made continual gestures that 
they were going to shoot. Standing under a tree, the 
brave Father Anthony began to preach to them, with 
animated voice and gesture. Then he and his com- 
panion extended their arms to them waiting, as h3 
said, "whether our weapons had touched their hearts, 
or their arrows should be buried in our breasts," all 
that company of savage idolaters remained transfixed, 
and the servant of God going forward to the Captain 
of the band gave him a tender embrace, telling him the 
good that would accrue to them if they would yield 
themselves to the soft yoke of Christ. After this gain 

—149— 



in attention, he further persuaded them with loving 
words, and founded the first mission sent out from the 
College of Zacatecas. Reconnoitering the regions of 
Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Texas, he formed the first 
establishment of Mission Guadalupe on the banks of 
the Guadalupe, May 1714. 

''In 1716, with three fathers and two lay brothers 
he founded the mission of Nuestra Seiiora de Guad- 
alupe among the Nacogdoches Indians, Los Dolores 
among the Ays; and San Miguel among the Adaes, 
on the frontier near the French settlement. When 
the French destroyed these missions in 1719, Father 
IMargil remained among the Tejas tribes for some 
time, and then lived on the San Antonio River 
for more than a year. He then returned to the scene 
of his missions in East Texas, restored them, and even 
gave his attention to the French settlers in Louisiana. 
He remained in this unsettled region for some years, 
making during this period a dictionary of many of the 
dialects and idioms of the frontier tribes. Named a- 
new guardian (president) of the College of Guadalupe 
de Zacatecas, he was compelled to leave his beloved 
Indians, going back to Mexico in 1723 to arrange for 
the foundation of new missions. In 1725, he was named 
for the second time president of the missions that were 
on the entire northern frontier. At the end of 1725 
and beginning of 1726, he traveled over the depart- 
ments of Guadalajara, Valladolid and Queretaro, in the 
direction of the Capital of IMexico. Upon this journey 
during the last days of July, he contracted pneumonia. 
With great suffering he arrived at the City of Mexico 
August 2, 1726, and expired on August 4th at the 
Convent of San Francisco. There was universal weep- 
ing and all the demonstration of respect that his vir- 
tues deserved. 

A pretty legend is told in Texas, to this day, that 
at the moment of his death all the mission bells rang 
of their own accord, without hands, and now on this an- 
niversary one may still hear the ringing if with spirit 

—150— 



attuned one is near one of his missions. His body was 
interred in the Church of San Francisco in a sepulchre 
constructed in the presbyterio on the Gospel side of the 
altar destined for the Counts de Valle, and ceded for 
this object by the possessor of the entail. _ On the stone 
that covered him was very suitably engraved commands 
of Christ to his Apostles, whom Father IMargil came 
to this country to imitate. "Going preach; Do not 
possess gold nor silver nor money in your purse, nor 
scrip for your journey, nor two coats nor sHoes, not 
"staff," ''nor arms for defense." Take my yoke 
upon you, and you shall find rest to your souls." His 
remains are now in the Cathedral of Mexico City. 

"The remains of the Venerable Padre Margil re- 
mained in the church of San Francisco until 1861. On 
the second of April of that year, Fr. (Bro.) Amor de 
Montes, being the guardian at the convent, the remains 
were brought to the Cathedral to be placed on an altar 
at the foot of the Crucifix in the chapel de la Virgen 
de la Soledad. They were afterwards placed in the 
chapel of the Virgen de las Angustias, beneath St. 
Peter's altar, and remained here for a long time. They 
were moved from there by the order of Bishop Labis- 
tada, (and it would appear this was done in his pres- 
ence) to the sacristy, to remove them from the large 
red leather case in which they had been, and to place 
them in a smaller one, so that they would fit in one 
of the three sepulchres that Bishop Labistada had or- 
dered. The remains are now in the middle sepulchre 
next to the remains of the illustrious archbishop Senor 
Garza in the chapel of the Immaculate Concepcion. The 
inscription on the marble slab marking the place of 
sepulchre is as follows : 

V. Dei Servi F. 

Antonio A. Jesu Margil. 

Cisneros 

Obit Die August. Ann. Dom. 

1726. 

—151 



In the cell* where Father Margil died his por- 
trait was placed on the wall at the spot occupied 
by his bed. It was inscribed: ''A true portrait 
of the Venerable Fray Priest A. M. de Jesus, Apos- 
portrait of the Ven. Fray Priest A. J\L de Jesus, Apos 
tolic Misbionary, who died at this place and Convent 
of our Patron San Francisco of IMbxico, on the sixth 
of xVugust, 1726, seventy years of age." In the ar- 
chives of the office of the archepiscopal palace are two 
boxes lined with brin, with the following inscriptions : 
"Testimony taken by the Ordinary of Mexico for the 
beatification of tiie Rev. F. Fr. A. M. de Jesus." 
''Testimony taken by the Ordinary ^ of Guadalajara for 
the beatification of the Rev. F. Fr. A. M. de Jesus." 

He accomplished so much that he seemed super- 
human to the simple Indians and frontierman and it 
is no wonder that in the folk-lore that has come down 
to us from that period his name is a first favorite. 




*The writer visited this ceU in the 
Convent of San Francisco, Mexico City. 
This building was torn down, in 190.8. 
much to the regret of all who love 
history and cherish the memory ,of 
great men. 

—152— 




Two Miracle and Mystery Plays of 
the Missions of Texas. 



Miracle Plays and Mysteries are two names used to 
designate the religious drama which developed among 
Christian nations at the end of the Middle Ages The 
origin of the medieval drama was in religion The Ca- 
tholic Church forbade the Christians during the early 
centuries to attend the licentious representations of de- 
cadent paganism; but once this immoral theatre had 
disappeared the Church contributed to the gradual de- 
velopment of the drama which was not only moral, but 
also edifying and pious. On certain solemn feasts, as 
Easter and Christmas, the Office was interrupted, and 
the priests represented, in the presence of those assist- 
ing, the religious event which was being celebrated. At 
first the text of the liturgical drama was very brief and 
in Latin prose, and was taken solely from the Gospel 
or Office of the day. Gradually, versification and the 
vernacular crept in. When the vernacular completely 
supplanted the Latin, and individual inventiveness as- 
serted itself, the drama ceased to be liturgical and left 
the precincts of the Church without losing its religious 
character. This evolution seems to have been accom- 
plished in the 12th century. These dramatic pieces 
were called "plays" or "miracles," the word miracle 
taken from the word miraculum, from mirari, to won- 
der, — in general— meaning, a w^onderful thing. The 
plays or dramas during the great dramatic effort in the 
fifteenth century were known as i' 'mysteries. " The 
word w^as doubtless derived from the Latin ministerium 
and means ' ' act. ' ' These sacred dramas were also called 
by other names of similar significance in the Middle 
Ages, in Italy, funzione, in Spain, autos, and even our 
own word drama is of analogous signification. But the 
dramatic and dogmatic mysteries were soon confused 

—153— 



and it was thought that the former, derived their name 
from the latter because the plays so frequently had for 
subject the m^^steries of Christian belief. We find in 
the lists of these old dramas "The Mystery of the Siege 
of Orleans," and '^The Mystery of the Destruction of 
Troy," clearly showing the meaning of the term. After 
the plays ceased to be liturgical and passed into the 
hands of the people, the authors, as time wore on, often 
mingled truth and legend without distinction, though 
still picturing Biblical personages. Later these plays were 
given by dramatic societies whose members considered 
it a great honor to belong to such an association. One 
of them, secured the monoply of all such plays in Paris. 
Finally, so many individual inventions, as the comedy 
features, and fabulous traditions, became mixed with the 
Biblical stories that it was deemed wisest to forbid these 
representations in Paris The provinces soon followed 
the example of Paris, and the Biblical Dramas gradually 
became extinct in France. In Spain they were retained 
long after they had been abandoned in other parts of 
Europe. When the Spanish ^Missionaries came to the 
New World it is easy to see that it was quite natural for 
them to institute for the Indians, (who were fond of 
solemn rites, glittering shows and mysterious ceremo- 
nies), religious plays and scenes from the Life of Christ, 
in order to convey to the crude minds of the Indians 
important Biblical truths, such as, the Divine origin of 
Christ and the stories of His Birth, Passion and Death 
on the Cross. The Indians became the actors under the 
guidance of the Fathers, but so far as I have been able 
to learn, the part of Christ was never taken by the 
Indians, in Texas, but shown by life-like ' limb-hinged 
figures. The character of Christ was held too sacred— 
or impossible of worthy interpretation, or perhaps, the 
missionaries had in mind the corruption of the sacred 
drama in Europe and wished to leave no room for false 
interpretation of the Christ. Another character repre- 
sented by figure was Judas. It may have been deemed 
too dangerous to be a Judas as he had to hang himself, 

—154— 



(and they likely knew that some one in playing the part 
in Europe in the 15th century had remained hanging 
for so long, that his heart failed him and he fainted, 
and had to be cut down and borne away.) But the 
real reason seems to be that no one was willing to take 
the part of so hated and despised a character. There 
grew up a hatred and detestation of Judas for the be- 
trayal of Jesus as symbolical of the hatred we slionld 
bear to sin, (which really betrayed the Savior), that 
after the influence of the missionaries was withdrawn, 
it was not many decades before the story of Judas was 
altered to the extent that the populace in some parts 
of Mexico, at least, hung Judas in effigy, instead of 
Judas hanging himself. During the Missionary Period 
the Biblical characters were depicted as truly and care- 
fully as the circumstances and actors would permit, 
and from a religious point of view% were most helpful 
in conveying the idea and story intended. These 
scenes became very popular with the Indians and early 
Mexican settlers, and when the IMissions were aban- 
doned, though no longer under the auspices of the 
Church, were kept alive by the descendants of these peo- 
ple and have come down to us in several forms ; the Pas- 
tores and the Via Crucis (or Via Sacra) being the 
best known. 

Los Pastores. 

Los Pastores, (The Shepherds) still obtains in most 
Spanish speaking communities in Texas, and may be 
seen during the Christmas season in San Antonio, 
Texas, along . the Rio Grande, on both sides, and in 
many parts of Mexico. A Franciscan missionary is 
credited as the author of this particular Nativity play 
(or exposition) and it would seem that this is correct, 
as no where has this play been found, except in com- 
munities which liave been at some time under the 
eclesiastical jurisdiction of the Fz^anciscan Fathers. 
The play varies slightly in the different communities, 
no originals have ever been found, the play has been 

—155— 



handed down from father to son since the mission days 
and from the method of its preservation it is easy to 
excuse errors and interpolations. Sometime before 
Christmas, lanterns are hung out to represent the Star 
of Bethlehem and the coming of Christ, the Light of 
the World. These lights are sometimes placed along 
the roofs of the houses, on trees or on high poles in 
front of the doors where the celebration is to be held. 
The play, supposed to be given during advent, is usually 
given during the period of about three weeks in San 
Antonio, beginning now about a w^eek before Christmas. 
Los Pastores, or the story of Christ's Nativity, opens 
with the singing or chanting of a choir or chorus dressed 
as shepherds. These shepherds seem to take the part 
of neighbors or onlookers, in some scenes, and that of 
simple interpreters, in others in which they can fittingly 
have no part after the fashion of the chorus of the Greek 
drama. The second scene, but the first scene proper 
of the story, is the meeting at the temple of the partri- 
archs who have assembled to select a husband for the 
Virgin Mary. Many aspired to the honor, but the 
Divine Will was made manifest and while all are en- 
gaged in prayer, blossoms burst forth from the rod 
borne by Joseph, and a beautiful dove is seen at the 
same instant to descend and alight on his head. Joseph 
is accepted and he and the Virgin Mary are espoused. 

In the next scene Lucifer holds converse with his 
imps, Satan, Sin, and Leviathan. He announces to his 
imps, that the prophecies of Ezekiel are accomplished 
and that a Redeemer of mankind is to be given to the 
world, that he has read the signs, that the maiden se- 
lected as the mother of the Redeemer, is a Virgin, where 
she is now, he knows not, but the birthplace of the 
Savior is to be in or near Bethlehem, in an humble 
spot. He tells them by what signs they shall know 
the maiden, and he commands them to depart and to 
search the whole world over for her and bring her 
to him that he may kill her. They all disappear, and 
Lucifer departs. 

—156— 



The next scene is the Annunciation. The angel Ga- 
briel appears and announces to the illustrious Virgin 
that she is to become the Mother of God, using the 
well-known Biblical salutation beginning, "Hail full 
of grace, the Lord is with thee ; Blessed art thou among 
women, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace 
with God." Lucifer, followed by his imps again comes 
upon the scene. The imps tell him of their inability 
to locate or find the maiden, but that the whole world 
is expecting the Messiah. They beg him to give them 
her name and to aid them in the search. At the pro- 
nunciation of her name the angel Michael appears, re- 
minds Lucifer of his downfall, and warns him to desist 
from his evil intention. However, Lucifer continues 
his search, locates Joseph and the holy maiden, and 
though through fear of Michael, he dare not injure 
the person of Mary, he poisons Joseph's mind against 
her, and Joseph becomes suspicious of his spouse. Mary 
appears sorrowful at Joseph's misunderstanding, but 
passes her time in prayer and devotion. 

Next scene, Joseph is asleep, and an angel of the Lord 
appears, revealing to him the adorable mystery of the 
Incarnation, using the Biblical language. ''And thou 
shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save his people 
from their sins." Joseph repentant, hastens to Mary's 
presence, falls upon his knees before her and implores 
her pardon. 

In the next scene, Mary and Joseph journey to Beth- 
lehem, and on their arrival go from door to door beg- 
ging for shelter for the night, but they invariably re- 
ceive the reply, that there is no room for them. At 
last they find shelter in a stable and are glad to rest 
their weary bodies. 

The chorus of shepherds all this while are chanting 
verses, telling the stories, and interpreting the meaning 
of the various scenes. 

The scene now changes to tliat of shepherds around 
a camp fire, keeping the night-watches over their flock. 
One shepherd goes off to look after his sheep and when 

—157— 



he returns tells those around the fire that if each will 
give him a present, he Avill relate some wonderful 
news. Each promise, and he tells them that while he 
was away he saw an angel who spoke to him saying, 
''Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to 
men of good will. Christ is come." Some tell him 
he has been dreaming, others that he is deceiving them, 
and that they will not believe him, etc., but just at 
this juncture an angel appears saying, ''Fear not; for 
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that 
shall be to all the people; for this day is born to you a 
Savior, who is Christ, the Lord, in the city of David. 
And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the 
infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in the 
manger." He further Avarns them of Lucifer, saying, 
that he will attempt to confuse them ,but not to fear 
or obey him. 

The shepherds start on their journey to Bethlehem, 
Lucifer comes and advises them not to go to Beth- 
lehem, as the roads are infested by beasts of prey, 
covered with ice and snow, besides, that they have been 
deceived, that the ]\Iessiah has not yet come. They 
pay no heed but continue on their way, which so en- 
rages Lucifer that he is about to destroy them when 
the angel Michael and his hosts appear, and Lucifer 
is vanquished. 

The shepherds at last arrive at the manger and adore 
the Christ Child, each presenting a simple gift, then 
they sing a lullaby, and with many blessings, depart, 
singing as they go. 

Being arranged and performed by the simpler classes, 
the costumes and accessories are unique, and the play, 
very naturally is a crude survival of the original Pas- 
tores, with many comedy features interspersed. For 
instance, a hermit, who comes out of a cave and joins 
the she])herds on the journey to Bethlehem is the clown 
of the company and with his jokes and jests keep the 
shepherds in good spirits on their tedious journey. 

The hermit is old, with long Avhite hair and beard, 

—158— 



and is dressed in a monk's tunic, with girdle of cord 
and wears a funny rosary of spools with cross attached. 

Satan, in some of the portrayals has a very long tail 
composed of fire-crackers, and this tail is set on fire 
when Lucifer and his imps are finally banished by the 
angel, being a ludicrous imitation of thunder, smoke 
and sulphur. Satan is made to perform many antics 
before his banishment with Lucifer, which causes up- 
roarious amusement. 

In some places, the evil spirits are thrown into the 
pit, and you can see them vanish into the flames. Re- 
alistic flames are produced by the use of sawdust and 
powdered resin thrown loosely into the blaze of hidden 
torches, concealed by an assistant, in the pit. The 
pit opens by a trap door. 

A shepherd, Bartholomew, is a ridiculously sleepy, 
comical fellow, who cannot shake off his drowsiness 
and will not even arouse himself to go and adore the 
Christ Child. Each shepherd goes in turn and pleads 
with him, after endeavoring to arouse him, but to each 
he makes some funny excuse, till patience ceases to 
be a virtue and two shepherds take him up bodily and 
deposit him in front of the crib. The Divine Presence, 
has the desired effect, he arouses himself, falls upon 
his knees in contrition, and joins in the adoration. 

The scene of the shepherd chorus is very pretty and 
unique. They come in twos and line up on opposite 
sides of the stage facing each other. They each carry 
a shepherd's crook, this is about five feet long and is 
entirely covered with paper of every hue. On the top, 
instead of one hook, there are four which come together 
and form a sort of crown like top. This top is also 
covered with colored paper, and bright ribbon stream- 
ers float out from below it, giving the crooks a very gay 
appearance. Inside the crown of the crooks, are sus- 
pended many tiny bells or other jingling instrumen+s. 
As they sing, the shepherds lift and drop the crooks, 
a musical jingle is thus produced, which adds to the 
melody and keeps time to the simple tune to which 

—159— 



they recite the history of the birth of Christ in rhyme. 
The lunch baskets which they carry suspended from 
their shoulders by bright hued streamers, are small 
and trimmed to correspond with the crooks. Some- 
times they are made of beautiful beaded work, com- 
posed of beads of all colors. 

Though the missionaries might not recognize the 
play at first sight as now performed, it is likely they 
would recognize the poetry or versicles sung, as they 
are of a high order and are undoubtedly from the 
original source. 

EL VIA CRUCIS— THE PASSION PLAY. 

That Los Pastores has survived in more places than 
the El Via Crucis — Passion Play — is due to many rea- 
sons, the chief of which may be that human nature 
turns to the joyous and from the dolorous. 

In the Passion Play' the costumes of the principal 
actors were true to life, and to the period, everything 
being made as realistic as possible. 

Each place made memorable by the moving events 
in Christ's journey along the road to Golgotha was 
carefully marked and des<?r4bed. The Franciscans 
having had charge of the holy places in Jerusalem for 
many centuries, well knew the traditional and his- 
torical significance of each. The early Christians who 
dwelt in Jerusalem were wont to visit and pray at the 
sacred spots sanctified by the sufferings of the Divine 
Redeemer, and there recall to mind the scenes enacted 
at each, endeavoring thus to place more vi\ddly be- 
fore their minds the sufferings of Christ, that they 
might more nearlj^ unite themselves to Him in spirit. 
It naturally became the custom for Christians, living 
elsewhere, to make a pilgrimage to the holy land of 
Palestine, where the Blessed Lord had lived and died, 
and there to visit every spot of ground made sacred 
by His Presence, just as we, of the present day, visit 
the homes of great men and noted historical places. 
The Franciscans missionaries, long imbued with a love 

—160— 



of these holy places felt that they could the better teach 
of the life and sufferings of Christ by a realistic fol- 
lowing of him and arranged "Stations" to correspond 
to the holy spots in Jerusalem — and taking the people 
with them from Station to Station began the drama 
or realistic following of Christ on His way to Calvary. 
In order to understand this enactment of Christ's jour- 
ney to Calvary you must place yourself in the attitude 
of the humble and devoted follower of Christ in Je- 
rusalem, who accompanied Him every step of the way 
and witnessed the crucifixion. Come with me along 
the road to Calvary. The scenes are interpreted by 
the chants and by an interpreting "Voice." The In- 
dians of Texas in the early days of Texas are the con- 
gregation — all are the followers of Christ and accom- 
pany Him on the sorrowful journey. Assembling be- 
fore the High Altar, in the Church before starting, 
they implore pardon of the Most High for the sin of 
every thought, word, deed and omission, expressing 
sincere love for God, sorrow for having offended so 
good a father, and promising never to sin again. 

The people of Jerusalem have heard of this wonder- 
ful Savior, of His apprehension at the Garden of Geth- 
semani, of His having healed the ear of Malchus, the 
servant of the high-priest, which was cut off by Peter, 
and they are going to the governor's palace to find 
Him and hear what the sentence will be. As they 
move along the chorus chants: 

Forth let the long procession stream. 
And through the streets in order wend; 
Let the bright waving torches gleam. 
The solemn chant ascend. 

They have now reached the governor's palace. 

SCENE I. 

In an endeavor to satisfy the Jews, Pilate had Jesus 
scourged. In this frightful condition he is shown to 
the people by Pilate. "Behold the Man! Behold I 
bring Him forth to you that you may know that I find 

—161— 



no cause in Him." But they cry out, ''Crucify Him, 
Crucify Him, or you are no friend of Caesar's." 
Pilate answers, "Take Him you and crucify Him for 
I find no cause in Him." And Pilate washes his hands 
before the people saying, "I am innocent of the blood 
of this just man. Look you to it." They answer, "Let 
His Blood be upon us, and upon our children!" 

Behold the man! He has been scourged, spat upon, 
mocked, and derided. An old jpui^le garment has 
been placed upon Him in mockery of His royalty, 
a crown of thorns is pressed upon his head for a dia- 
dem, and where the thorns pierce the brow the blood 
trickles down; his hands are tied with cords and a reed 
placed in them as a mock scepter. The robe falling 
from His shoulders shows the mangled and lacerated 
flesh from which the blood oozes. His face is full of 
anguish. 

{A Voice is heard: It is not the Jews, but your 
secret sins of thought, your sins of pride, of criminal 
pleasures and sensual gratifications which press down 
those cruel thorns and scourge and mock the patient 
Jesus.) 

They strip off the purple robe, clothe Him with his 
own garment, and lead Him off to be crucified. The 
crowd moves off after the Savior chanting: 

Dear Jesus, Thou dost go to die 

For very love of me : 
Ah! let be bear Thee Company; 

I wish to die with Thee. 

SCENE II. 

They have now arrived at the place where the huge 
cross is. The thorns of the crown still pierce the 
sacred head of Christ, and to add to His torture 
He is made to bear the cross upon His lacerated 
shoulders. 

{The voice again interprets: How patiently He suf- 
fers for your sins of impatience, selfishness, and re- 
bellion against present duties and God's will.) 

—162— 



With ropes and chains about His body, carrying His 
cross, He is led on down the road to Calvary. The 
people follow chanting: 

Our sins are manifold and sore ; 
But pardon them that sin deplore ; 
And for Thy name's sake make each soul, 
That feels and owns its languor, whole. 

SCENE ni. 

Jesus falls under the Cross. 

See He is passing over a rough and steep way. He 
has lost a great quantity of blood and is so w^eakened 
He can scarcely walk, yet He struggles on under the 
great weight of the cross. He stumbles, He Falls. He 
is rudely struck by the soldiers and dragged to His 
feet. 

The Voice: It is not the weight of the cross, or the 
cruel soldiers, but it is your sins which have made Him 
suffer so much pain and insult. 

As on He goes the people chant: 

Much have we sinned, Lord ! and still 
"We sin each day we live ; 
Yet look in pity from on high, 
And of Thy grace forgive. 

SCENE IV. 

On Jesus totters under the heavy load, but stops from 
sheer weariness. He looks up and beholds His afflicted 
IMother almost fainting with grief at the sight of the 
sufferings of her Beloved Son. As they gaze at each 
other, their looks become so many arrows in those ten- 
der hearts. 

The voice interprets: Weep for your sins of faith- 
lessness and ingratitude which have so afflicted the 
heart of the loving Savior. 

As the suffering Christ moves on, the crowd follows, 
singing : 

—163— 



how sad, and sore distressed, 
Now was she, that Mother Blessed 
Of the Sole-begotten One; 
Woe begone, with heart's prostration, 
Mother meek , the bitter Passion 
Sees she of her glorious Son. 
For His people's sins rejected. 
Sees her Jesus unprotected, 
Sees with thorns, with scourges rent; 
Sees her Son from judgment taken. 
Her beloved in death forsaken. 
Till His spirit forth He sent. 

SCENE V. 

The Savior is faint and weak, but is dragged on by 
His merciless captors, until on the point of expiring 
from fatigue and suffering He again stops by the way. 
Fearing that He can stand no more, and wishing Him 
to bear the disgrace of an ignominious death on the 
cross, they constrain Simon, the Cyrenian, to help carry 
the cross. 

The voice speaks: You are the Cyrenian who refuses 
to patiently carry the Gi^oss of daily trials. Help, for 
the future, to carry the Cross by accepting all trials 
with Christian resignation, even the Death to whicli 
you are destined, with all the pains which may accom- 
pany it. 

As on the Savior moves with help from the Cyrenian, 
the chant is heard: 

Ah, let us not refuse to share 
Thy Cross, and pains, and death. 
But patiently our sorrows bear. 
Trust all to Thy dear care. 

SCENE YI. 

Jesus stops again from weariness. His beautiful face 
disfigured with wounds and blood and anguish. A 
compassionate woman seeing His Face bathed in sweat 

—164— 



and Blood presents him with a towel with which He 
wipes His Holy Face, And see ! He has left upon the 
towel the imprint of His countenance ! 

The voice: You have indeed, a heart of flint if the 
sufferings of your Meek Savior become not indelibly 
impressed therein and renew not in you a new and 
clean heart. 

On the Savior passes, and we hear: 

Print in our souls, we pray Thee, deep 
The memory of Thy bitter pains, 
That we in life may ever keep 
Free from disfigurement by Sins. 

SCENE VII. 

Another long stretch, and Jesus is visibly growing 
weaker and weaker. He stumbles, again He falls, and 
the heavy cross strikes against His head and shoulders, 
pressing deeper the cruel thorns, and renewing again 
with added torture all His wounds. 

The voice : How often you have been pardoned, and 
how often you have fallen again into sin. Pray 
that the merits of this second fall of the suffering 
Savior may enable you to rise again from Sin and per- 
severe in His grace until Death. 

Jesus is dragged up and on, the chorus sings : 

Oh let us shun whatever things 

Distract the careless heart; 

And let us shut our souls against 

The tyrant tempter's art; 

And weep before the Judge, and strive 

His vengeance to appease; 

For ah, alas! our sins have wrought 

Such sufferings as these. 

SCENE VIII. 

He stumbles forward on His agonizing way, the 
blood streaming at every step. A crowd of women of 
Jerusalem have assembled by the side of the road, and 

—165— 



are weeping with compassion at His pitiable state. He 
stops and speaks to them. ''Daughters of Jerusalem, 
weep not for me, but for yourselves and for your chil- 
dren. ' ' 

The voice is heard : Bewail your God who goes forth 
to die: but weep for your sins which lead Him there- 
unto. You are cruel to yourself if you do not know 
how to obliterate your faults with tears. Precious blood 
of the Savior, soften the heart that does not weep foi' 
its sins; enlighten the intellect that does not understand 
the enormity of sin; humble the will that resists God's 
precious graces. 

The Savior can scarcely put one foot before the other, 
but forces himself onward. The chanters say: 

May we weep for our offences. 
For the pains they have deserved. 
For the anguish they have caused Thee, 
And the love that we have spurned. 

SCENE IX. 

Another long stretch of road and his weakness is 
extreme. See how his cruel executioners try to hasten 
His steps when He has scarcely strength to move. He 
falls for the third time, and lies there under the cross 
until dragged up by the soldiers who, with harsh words, 
brutally kick and cuff Him. 

The voice: Weep for those repeated relapses into 
sin which caused this fall. Weep for your ingratitude 
which gives this cross such frightful weight. By the 
merits of the weakness the outraged Jesus suffered, 
ask for strength to conquer all human respect, and all 
wicked passions. 

At last the Savior is again able to totter onward, 
while a hymn is heard : 

Quench Thou in us the flames of strife. 
From passion's heat preserve our life, 
Our lx)dies keep from perils free, 
And give our souls true peace in Thee. 

—165— 



SCENE X. 

He is now climbing the hill of Calvary. He has 
arrived, being dragged upward. They are stripping 
off His garments with violence. His inner garments 
adhere to the torn flesh, but the cruel executioners strip 
them off without mercy. 

The voice : Sirt will leave your soul naked and de- 
fenceless in the hour of your death. While Time is 
yours, repent and put on the robe of virtue and self- 
sacrifice. 

Chant : 

Strip me of all affection for evil, 
Make me loathe all that savors of Sin, 
For sin renews all Thy sorrows and woes — 
Let me not add to Thy tortures again. 

SCENE XI. 

They drag the Divine Redeemer with ropes, visiting 
upon Him kicks and blows, until He is finally forced 
upon the cross. His arms and legs are roughly and 
cruelly pulled into place. Hear the heart-rending 
blows! The huge, rough nails pierce His hands and 
feet! See they have fastened HHm to this infamous 
gibbet and are now straining at the ropes to elevate 
it! It is done. What torture and anguish He endures. 
Consumed with the thirst, they give Him gall and 
vinegar to drink. 

The voice : Behold your sins have brought Him to 
death. Seek refuge in those wounds and cleanse your 
soul in that holy blood. ^ 

Chant : 

Thirty years among us dwelling. 

His appointed time fulfilled. 

Born for this, He meets His Passion, 

For that this He freely willed; 

On the Cross the Lamb is lifted, 

Where His life-blood shall be spilled. 

He endured the nails, the spitting, 

—167— 



Vinegar, and spear, and. reed; ■' 

From that holy body broken i 

Blood and water forth proceed: 

Earth, and stars, and sky, and ocean 

By that flood from stain are freed. I 

SCENE XII. 

After three hours of agony, hanging on the cross 
between two malefactors, Jesus dies. 

The voice : Behold there on the mountain hangs the i 

Son of God nailed to the Cross. Those eyes streaming j 

with blood; those death-pale lips, those thorns, those I 

nails, those wounds, that pierced side, that blood, — all \ 

are fountains of mercy. But, alas! see also justice be- ' 

side this cross with sword in hand! Oh, unhappy be- i 

ing should you persist in sin, and so frustrate the work ; 

of your redemption. j 

Chant: i 
At the cross her station keeping, 

Stood the mournful Mother weeping, . 

Close to Jesus to the last : : 

Who could mark, from tears refraining, *; 

Who, unmoved, behold her languish i 
Underneath His cross of anguish, • ' j 

'Mid the fierce, unpitying crowd? j 

Those five wounds, on Jesus smitten, i 

May they in my heart be written, I 

May His wounds transfix me wholly, -' 
May His Cross and Life Blood holy 
Ebriate my heart and mind; 
Make on me impression deep : 
Thus Christ's dying may I carry, 
With Him in His Passion tarry. 

And His wounds in memory keep. . 

SCENE XIII. I 

Two of Christ's disciples now take Him down from j 

the Cross and place Him in the arms of His afflicted j 

iVfother. j 

—168— ' 



The voice : What a horrible evil Sin is ! Abominable 
Sin! Murderer of the Son of God, tormentor of the 
motherly heart! It caused the bodily sacrifice on the 
part of the Son, a sacrifice in spirit and heart of the 
Mother. 

Chant : 

In her arms her Jesus holding, 
Torn but newly from the Cross! 
What a sea of tears and sorrows 
Did the soul of Mary toss. 
Oft and oft His arms and bosom; 
Fondly straining to her own; 
Oft her pallid lips imprinting 
On each wound of her dear Son, 
Till at last in wounds of anguish, 
Sense and consciousness are gone. 

SCENE XIV. 

The disciples carry the body of Jesus to bury it, and 
His holy Mother who is with them, arranges the body 
in the sepulchre with her own hands. They close the 
tomb and all withdraw. 

The voice: Let your heart be the grave of Jesus, 
that he may cleanse and sanctify it, and thus absolved, 
may you rise with Him at the Last Day. 

Chant : 

The Royal Banners forward go; 
The Cross shines forth in mystic glow; 
Where He in flesh, our flesh who made. 
Our sentence bore, our ransom paid: 
Cross, our one reliance, hail! 
This holy Passiontide avail 
To give fresh merit to the saint, 
^ And pardon to the penitent. 



-169— 



Francis of Assisi, 

FOUNDER OF THE FRANCISCANS.* 



Francis Bernadone of Assisi had been the gayest of 
a gay set of young noblemen but was turned to the ser- 
vice of God and man and from evil ways by remorseful 
contemplation during a severe illness. 

On Feb. 24, 1208, hearing the Gospel of the dav read 
he accepted it as if spoken to himself. He understood 
that the disciples of Christ were to possess neither gold 
nor silver nor scrip for their journey, nor two coats, 
nor shoes, nor a staff, and that they w^ere to exhort 
sinners to repentance and announce the kingdom of 
God. He left the church after the service and deter- 
mined to act as became a real disciple. He threw away 
his shoes, cloak, staff and empty w^allet, obtaining a 
coarse woolen tunic, of "beast color," then worn by 
the poorest Umbrian peasants, tied it around him with 
a knotted rope, and went forth at once, exhorting the 
people of the countryside to penance, brotherly love 
and peace. 

Francis's simple child-like nature fastened on the 
thought, that if all are from one Father, then all are 
real kin. Hence his custom of claiming brotherhood 
with all manner of animate and inanimate things. He 
was the loving friend of all of God's creatures, the joy- 
ous singer of nature. Few lives have been more wholl}^ 
imbued with the supernatural. Nowhere can there be 
found a keener insight into the innermost world of 
spirit; yet so closely were the supernatural and the 
natural blended in Francis, that his very asceticism 
was often clothed in the disguise of romance, as wit- 
ness his wooing of the "Lady Poverty." He found in 
all created thing some reflection of tlie divine perfec- 
tion and loved to admire in them the beauty, power, 
wisdom, and goodness of their Creator 

♦Compiled mainly from sketch of St. Francis in Catholic En- 
cyclopedia. 

—170— 



His personification of the elements in the ''Canticle 
of the Sun" is not therefore merely to be regarded or 
esteemed as a rhetorical rhapsod}^ He saw sermons in 
the stones and good in everything. 

Money and wealth alone excepted, Francis most de- 
tested all discords and divisions. Peace was his watch- 
word. His exhortations were short, affectionate or 
pathetic, touching even the hardest and most frivolous, 
so that Francis soon became, in sooth, a very conqueror 
of souls. He strove to correct abuses by holding up 
an ideal. He stretched out his arms in yearning to- 
wards those who longed for the "better gifts." The 
others he left alone. Francis' foremost aim was a re- 
ligious one. To enkindle the love of God in the world 
and reanimate the life of the spirit in the hearts of 
men, was his mission. And because Francis ever 
sought first the kingdom of God and His justice, many 
other things were added unto him, so that his exquisite 
Franciscan spirit, as it is called, passing out into the 
world became an abiding source of inspiration. 

For Christmas 1223, Francis conceived the idea of 
celebrating the Nativity by a realistic reproduction of 
the Crib of Bethlehem. He endeavored to persuade 
the Emperor to make a special law for the Christmas 
season that would compel men to provide food for birds 
and beasts, as well as for the poor, that all creatures 
might have occasion to rejoice in the Lord. 

Francis gathered his followers, the Franciscans into 
an association and made for them a Rule. This Rule 
was based on IMatthew XIX, 21, Matthew XVI, 24, 
Matthew X, 3, Mark VI, 8, Luke IX, 3, and on the 
three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, special 
stress being laid on poverty which Francis sought to 
make the special characteristic of his order. It like- 
wise enjoined an Apostolic life with all its renounce- 
ments and privations. His followers were forbidden 
to wear shoes, if not compelled through necessity. They 
were expected to fast when able, from the feast of All 
Saints until the Nativity, during Lent, and every Fri- 

—171— 



day. They were forbidden to ride on horseback unless 
compelled by manifest necessity or infirmity. "In no 
wise shall they receive coins or money, either themselves 
or through an interposed person." He insisted on 
the duty of labor for "those brothers (members) to 
whom the Lord has given the grace of working. But 
they must work in such a way that "they do not ex- 
tinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion to which 
all temporal things must be subservient." As reward 
for their labor, they may receive things needed, with 
the exception of coins or money. "The brothers (mem- 
bers) shall appropriate nothing for themselves, , nei- 
ther a house, nor place, nor anything, and as pilgrims 
and strangers in the world, let them go confidently 
in quest of alms." He appealed to the order to ''ob- 
serve fraternal love and mutual confidence, and be- 
ware lest they .be angry or troubled on account of the 
sins of others. ' ' The duty of a servant of God, Francis 
declared, was to lift up the hearts of men and women 
to spiritual gladness. The Franciscans, his followers, 
therefore "went among the people, dwelt among them 
and grappled with the evils of the system under which 
the people groaned." They worked for their fare do- 
ing for the lowest the most menial labor, and to the 
poorest speaking words of hope such as the world had 
not heard for many a day, a doctrine of love and cheer- 
fulness. 

"Let the Friars," Francis wrote, "take care not to 
appear gloomy, or sad, like hypocrites, but let them 
be jovial and merry, showing that they rejoice in the 
Lord, and becomingly courteous." They wandered 
from place to place singing in their joy. The wide world 
was their cloister; hence it mattered not whither they 
wandered if thus they could save souls. They accom- 
modated themselves to any manner of life, sleeping in 
haylofts, grottoes, church porches or fields, if nothing 
better was offered. They toiled with the laborers in 
the fields, and when none gave them to eat they would 
beg. In a short while Francis and his companions 

—172— 



gained an immense influence and men tof different 
grades of life flocked to the order. 

It has been said that Francis is the one Saint whom 
-all people have agreed in canonizing. ''Certain it is 
that those who care little about the order he founded 
and who have but scant sympathy with the church to 
which he gave his devout allegiance, even those who 
believe not Christianity to be Divine, find them- 
selves instinctively, as it were, looking across the ages 
for guidance to the wonderful Umbrian Poverello. This 
unique position Francis doubtless owes in no small 
measure to his singularly lovable and winsome per- 
sonality. There was about Francis a chivalry and a 
poetry which gave to his worldliness a singularly ro- 
mantic charm and beauty. Other saints have seemed 
entirely dead to the world around them, but Francis 
was ever thoroughly in touch with the spirit of the age. 
He delighted in the songs of Provence, rejoiced in the 
new born freedom of his native City, and cherished 
what Dante calls the pleasant sound of his dear land. 
This exquisite human element in Francis' character 
was the key to that far-reaching, all-embracing sym- 
pathy, which was his characteristic gift. In his heart 
the whole world found refuge; the poor, the sick and 
fallen, being the object of his solicitude in an especial 
manner. Heedless as Francis ever was of the world's 
judgments in his own regard, it was his constant care 
to respect the opinions of all and to wound the feelings 
of none. Wherefore he admonishes the friars to use 
only low and mean tables, so that if a beggar were to 
come and sit down near them, he might believe that 
he was with his equals, and need not blush on account 
of his poverty. One night the Priory was aroused by 
the cry: ''I am dying!" ''Who are you," exclaimed 
Francis, arising, "and why are you dying?" "I am 
dying of hunger," answered the voice of one who had 
been too prone to fasting. Whereupon Francis had a 
table laid out and sat down beside the famished friar, 
and lest the latter might be ashamed to eat alone, or- 

—173— 



dered all the other brethren to join in the repast. 

Francis, writing to a certain member of the Order 
said: "Should there be a brother ?jiywhere in the 
world who has sinned, no matter how great so ever his 
fault may be, let him not go away after he has once 
seen thy face, without showing pity toward him : and 
if he seek not mercy, ask him if he d^es not desire it. 
And by this I will know that you love God and me. ' ' 

According to medieval conception of justice, the 
evil-doer being beyond the law, there was no need to 
keep faith with him, but according to Francis, not only 
was justice due even to the evil-doers, but justice must 
be preceded by courtesy, as by a herald. ''Courtesy," 
indeed, in the Saint's quaint concept, ''was the youn- 
ger sister of charity," and one of the finalities of God 
Himself, "Who of His courtesy," he declares, "gives 
His sun and His rain to the just and the unjust." This 
habit of courtesy he ever sought to enjoin on his dis- 
ciples. "Whoever may come to us," he writes, 
"whether friend or foe, a thief or a robber, let him be 
kindly received," and the feast which he spread for 
the starving brigands sufficed to show that "as he 
taught so he wrought." 

The very animals found in Francis a tender friend 
and protector, thus we find him pleading with the 
people to feed the fierce wolf that had ravished their 
flocks, because, through hunger, ''Brother Wolf" had 
done this wrong. Early legends have left us many an 
idyllic picture of how beasts and birds alike, suscep- 
tible to the charm of Francis' gentle ways, entered into 
loving companionship with him, how the hunted leveret 
sought to attract his notice, how the ha If- frozen bees 
crawled towards him to be fed, how the wild falcon 
fluttered around him; how the nightingale sang with 
him in sweetest content in the ilex* grove at th^ Car- 
ceri, and how his "little brethren," the birds, listened 
so devoutly to his sermon by the roadside that Francis 
chided himself for not having thought of preaching to 
them before. Francis' love of nature also stands out 



in bold relief in the world he moved in. He delighted 
to commune with wild flowers, crystal springs, and a 
friendly fire, and to greet the sun as it rose upon the 
fair Umbrian vale. 

Hardly less engaging than his boundless sense of 
fellow feeling was Francis' downright sincerity and 
artless simplicity. ''Dearly Beloved," he once began a 
sermon following upon a severe illness, ''I have to con- 
fess to God and you that during this Lent I have eaten 
cakes made with lard." And when the guardian in- 
sisted, for the sake of warmth, upon Francis having 
a fox skin sewn under his worn out tunic, the Saint 
consented only upon condition that a skin of the same 
size be sewn outside. For it was his unfailing desire 
and practice never to hide from men that which was 
known to God. ''What a man is in the sight of God" 
he was wont to repeat, "so much he is and no more." 
A saying which passed into the "Imitation" and often 
quoted. Another winning trait of Francis which in- 
spires the deepest affection was his unswerving direct- 
ness of purpose and unfaltering following after an 
ideal. "His dearest desire so long as he lived, was ever 
to seek among wise and simple, perfect and imperfect, 
the means to walk in the ways of truth." To Francis, 
love was the truest of all truths: hence his deep sense 
of personal responsibility towards his fellows. 

The love of Christ and him crucified permeated the 
whole life and character of Francis, and he placed the 
chief hope of redemption and redress for a suffering 
humanity in a literal imitation of his Divine IMaster. 
The saint imitated the example of Christ as literally 
as it was in him to do so : barefoot, and in absolute 
poverty, he proclaimed the reign of love. This heroic 
imitation of Christ's poverty was perhaps the distinct- 
ive mark of Francis' vocation, and he was undoubtedly, 
as Bossuet expresses it, "the most ardent, enthusiastic, 
and desperate lover of poverty the world has yet seen." 

Francis was a profound mystic in the truest sense of 
the word. The whole world to him was one luminous 

—175— 



ladder, mounting the rungs of which he approached 
and beheld God. 

In August 1224, when Francis had retired with three 
companions to ''that rugged rock 'twixt Tiber and 
Arno" there to keep a forty days fast and retreat in 
preparation for Michaelmas, the sufferings of Christ 
became more than ever the burden of his meditations. 
Into few souls has the full meaning of the Passion ever 
so deeply entered. On the feast of the exaltation of the 
Cross, Sept. 14th, while praying on the mountain side, 
he beheld the marvelous vision of the seraph, and, as 
a sequel, there appeared on his body the visible marks 
of the five wounds of the Crucified which had so long 
been impressed on his heart. His right side was des- 
cribed as bearing an open wound, which looked as if 
made by a lance, while through his hands and feet were 
black nails of flesh, the points of which were bent back- 
wards. This marking was called "the Stigmata." 

After the reception of the Stigmata, Francis suffered 
increasing pains throughout his fuail body, already 
broken by continual mortification. Sensitive as he 
always was of the weaknesses of others, he was ever 
so unsparing of himself that at last he felt constrained 
to ask pardon of his body for having treated it so 
harshly. Francis' strength and eyesight now failed him. 
He was almost totally blind. About September, 1225, 
it was that he composed the "Canticle of the Sun" in 
which his poetic genius expands itself gloriously. 

Some months after this he dictated his last testament, 
which he describes as "a reminder, a warning and an 
exhortation." In this touching document, Francis, 
writing from the fullness of his heart, urges anew with 
simple eloquence, the few but dosely defined prin- 
ciples that were to guide his followers: implicit obedi- 
ence to superiors as holding the place of God, literal 
observance of the RuIp "without gloss," especially as re- 
gards poverty, and the duty of manual labor, being 
solemnly enjoined on all the friars. Francis, in a dy- 
ing condition, set out for Assisi, but feeling the hand 

—no— 



of death upon him, had himself carried to his beloved 
Portiuncula, that he might breathe his last sigh where 
his vocation had been revealed to him, and whence his 
order had struggled into sight. On the way thither he 
asked to be set down and with painful effort he in- 
voked a beautiful blessing on Assisi. On the eve of 
his death he blessed all of his companions saying: ''I 
have done my part : may Christ teach you to do yours. ' ' 
Then wishing to manifest a last token of detachment, 
and to show he had no longer anything in common with 
the world, Francis removed his poor habit and lay 
down on the bare ground, covered simply with a bor- 
rowed cloth, rejoicing that he was able to keep faith 
with his Lady of Poverty to the end. He asked to 
have the Passion according to St. John read to him 
and then in faltering tones he himself intoned Psalm 
CXII. At the concluding verse, ''bring my soul out 
of prison," Francis was led away from earth by ''Sis- 
ter Death" in whose praise he had shortly before added 
a new strophe in his" Canticle to the Sun." This was Sat- 
urday, Oct. 3, 1226, when he was in his forty-fifth year. 

Saint Francis must surely be reckoned among those 
to whom the world of art and letters is deeply indebted. 
Prose could not satisfy the saint's ardent soul, so he 
made poetry. This was the first cry of a nascent po- 
etry which found its highest expression in the "Divine 
Comedy," wherefore Francis has been called the Pre- 
cursor of Dante. He taught the people the use of their 
native tongue in simple spontaneous hymns. In as 
far as Francis' representation of the stable at Beth- 
lehem is the first INfystery play we hear of in Italy, he 
is said to have boime a part in the re^dval of the drama. 
If Francis' love of song called forth the beginnings of 
Italian verse, his life no less brought about the birth of 
Italian art. "His story," says 'Kuskin, "became a 
passionate tradition painted everywhere with delight, 
full of color, dramatic possibilities and human interest; 
the early Franciscan legends afforded the most popular 
material for painters since the life of Christ." 

—177— 




The Vision of Saint Anthony. 

St, Anthony of Padua. 



Anthony of Padua, for whom San Antonio, Texas, and 
for whom the Alamo was originally named, was a noted 
follower and contemporary of Francis of Assisi. This 
young nobleman was descended on his mother 's side from 
a king of Asturias, and on his father's from the immor- 
tal Godfey of Bouillon. Being at Coimbra when a num- 
ber of Franciscan martyrs were brought home from a 
foreign land, for burial, he meditated on their zeal for 

♦Compiled chiefly from Catholic Encyclopedia. 

—178— 



God's work and his heart became aflame with a fervent 
desire to follow their example and earn their glorious 
fate. He asked to be sent on a foreign mission, and was 
sent to Africa. He was there attacked by a malignant 
fever and sent back home. 

Being extremely humble, he preferred to be the least 
rather than expose his own talents. His remarkable 
gifts were therefore discovered quite by accident. A 
number of persons were sent to Forli for ordination and 
when the time for ordination arrived it was found that 
no one had been appointed to preach. Different visitors 
were asked to address a few words, but every one de- 
clined, saying that he was not prepared. In the emerg- 
ency the Superior commanded' Anthony, who was 
thought only able to read, "to speak whatever the spirit 
of God put into his mouth." Anthony compelled by 
obedience, began to speak, at first timidly and slowly, 
but soon was enkindled with fervor, explaining the Holy 
Scripture with such profound erudition that all were 
struck with astonishment. Thus was began his public 
career. Francis, informed of his learning, directed him 
by the following letter to teach theology to the brethern : 
' ' To Brother Anthony ; Brother Francis sends his greet- 
ings : It is my pleasure that thou teach theology to the 
brethern, provided, however, that as the Rule prescribes, 
the spirit of prayer and devotion may not be extin- 
guished. Farewell! (A. D. 1224.) 

It was as an orator, however, that Anthony reaped his 
richest harvest. He possessed in an eminent degree all 
the good qualities of an eloquent preacher ; a loud, clear 
voice, a winning countenance, wonderful memory, pro- 
found learning, to which were added, from on high, the 
spirit of prophecy and an extraordinary gift of miracles. 
With the zeal of an apostle, he undertook to reform the 
immorality of his time by combatting the vices of luxury, 
avarice and tyranny. He spoke to the rich and poor, to 
those high in authority, and to the lowly, and his bio- 
graphers tell us that when he preached whole cities and 
towns came out to hear him; and churches being too 

—179— 



small, he sought the open fields in which to preach. 
Thirty thousand persons were often in his audience. 
His sermons were chiefly directed against hatred and 
enmity. So numerous and wonderful were the miracles 
attending his labors that he was called the '' Wonder 
Worker." 

The name of Anthony became celebrated throughout 
the world and with it the name of Padua. The force of 
his miracles has never diminished, and even at the pres- 
ent day he is acknowledged as the greatest Thaumatur- 
gist of the times. He was loved and honored by his 
brethern and small wonder it is that the name of Francis 
and Anthony were perpetuated throughout the world 
by his Franciscan brethern. 

Among the many miracles and legends which cluster 
around the name of St. Anthony may be mentioned the 
following : 

At one time Anthony preached in Rome at the com- 
mand of the Pope to some assembled pilgrims of dif- 
ferent nations and languages, when behold! a ''miracle 
of tongues," for each listener heard the sermon in his 
own native language and all went away amazed and 
edified. 

In the neighborhood of Limoges lived Lord Chateau- 
neauf who always extended hospitality to Antliony, 
having a small house set apart for his special use. Dur- 
ing one of his sojourns here, the VISION took place 
which has furnished the subject so generally adopted by 
artists in portraying St. Anthony. It was here that the 
Infant Jesus came to Anthony and permitted himself 
to be fondly caressed and embraced. Lord Chateau- 
neauf who also saw the vision, was made to promise 
never to reveal it before the death of the saint, which 
promise was kept. 

On one occasion St. Anthony came to the city of Rimi- 
ni where were many heretics and unbelievers. H<e 
preached to them repentance and a new life, but they 
stopped their ears and refused to listen to him. He 
then repaired to the seashore, and stretching forth his 

—180— 



hand he said: "Hear me ye fishes! for these unbe- 
lievers refuse to listen! And truly it was a marvelous 
thing to see hoAv an infinite number of fishes, great and 
little, lifted their heads above the water and listened to 
the sermon of the saint. This resulted in the conver- 
sion of many who had from curiosity, incredulously 
followed him to see the result." 

When St. Anthony died, the brotherhood desired to 
keep his death a secret, that they might bury him in 
their church, but the secret could not be kept, for the 
little children of the city, divinely inspired thereto, ran 
through the streets crying, ' ' II Santo e ' morto ! II Santo 
e' morto!" (the Saint is dead.) On his canonization a 
year later the church bells of Rome rang out their joy- 
ful peals, without visible human ringers. 

The citizens of Padua decided to build a church to 
his memory at public expense. Thirty-two years after 
his death his remains were removed to the church built 
in his honor. Upon this occasion, the tomb being opened, 
the tongue of the saint was found intact, fresh and of a 
lively red color. An on-looker exclaimed: ''It is clear 
that the tongue which always praised the Lord and made 
others bless Him hath merit before God." 

His feast is June the 13th. 



Such were the manner of men who came to America 
to teach and convert the Indians, spreading through the 
New World the Franciscan spirit and inspiration, and 
who founded the Mission schools and colleges and taught 
the heathen in the wilds of Texas. 




—181— 




Rear view of San Fernando Cathedral, showing old part. 

The Church of San Fernando. 



The Church of San Fernando, although not a Mission 
Church, but merely a Parish Church, is older than the 
Church of the Alamo, its cornerstone having been laid 
May 11, 1738, while that of the Alamo Church was not 
laid until May 8, 1744. The Church was blessed No- 
vember 1749. At the rear of the present Cathedral may 
still be seen a large part of the original Church, its 
dome, massive walls, and octagonal design showing the 
Moresque style of architecture. 

The coi-nerstone of the new part was laid September 
27, 1868. It was enlarged to meet the needs of the 
groAving city of San Antonio, and in order that there 
should be no interruption jin the services^ ;the new 
Church was built around and over the old one. When 
the new one was suficiently completed, the old roof and 
front were taken off, the old tile floor was removed and 
a wooden floor substituted, and pews put in. Later, a 
grand organ was installed and stained glass windows 
purchased. The new Church was opened October 6, 
1873, and was then designated as a Cathedral, since in 

—182— 



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San Fernando Church when enlarged and named as a Cathedral. 

the near future, the new diocese of San Antonio was to 
be erected. Mr. Francis Giraud who was Kayor of San 
Antonio at this date was the one who drew the plans for 
the enlargement of the Church. On September 3, 1874 
the diocese was created, and the Very Rev. A. D. Pelli- 
cer, D. D., was appointed the first Bishop, and was in 
stalled in his new See on Christmas Eve 1874. Right 
Rev. J. C. Neraz was the second Bishop of San Antonio, 
Right Rev. J. A. Forest the third Bishop, and the fourtlij 
is the present incumbent, the Right Rev. John W. Shaw, 
who still claims the ancient Church as his Cathedral and 
center of his diocese. 

Bishop Odin, in 1840, in his diary, notes as follows: 
"The San Fernando Parochial Church was very much 
injured by fire in 1828, and partly repaired in the fol- 
lowing years. In May 1841, we began to repair it en- 
tirely." It seems that there was a later fire in the old 
Church which destroyed a great part of the records and 
archives. 

The Church of San Fernando has been the scene of 



—183— 



many quaint, joyful, interesting, momentous and tragic 
events. From its tower the Texas sentinels first sighted 
the enemy in February 1836. Later from the same 
tower, Santa Anna's blood red flag of "No Quarter," 
carried to the breeze its merciless message to the Texans 
in the Alamo. 

The following translations of old Spanish documents 
relating to the founding of the Church may be of in- 
terest : 

Royal Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, 
February 17, 1738. 

Considering that the room appropriated at the time 
of the erection of this Presidio for the celebration of the 
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and now used as a parish 
church, has no tabernacle, font or other ornaments re- 
quisite for decorum of the IMinistrations of the Sacra- 
ments ; therefore, in view of the representation to the 
effect laid before me by Padre Don Juan Rezio de 
Leon, Curate, Vicar and Ecclesiastical Justice of the 
town of San Fernando (outside this Presidio), I have 
resolved, jointly with the Justice and Town Council, for 
the better service of God, our Lord, the promotion of 
divine worship and public convenience, that a Parish 
Church shall be erected under the invocation of the 
Virgin of the Candalaria and our Lady of Guadalupe, 
for whom this population profess a particular devotion. 

To this effect, and with the assistance of said Curate; 
and Ecclesiastic Justice, and the Justice and Council of 
this town, I proceeded to select the most eligible 
site for the erection of said church, which site was 
marked out in a location convenient for both the resi- 
dents in the town and in the garrison. There being no 
other resources for the construction of this edifice but 
the donations that may be offered by joious souls of 
both localities, I hereby ordain that the Justice and 
Town Council of San Fernando shall appoint to collect 
the donations, and with the proceeds thereof begin and 
superintend the work of construction; two trustees unit- 

—184— 



ing in their persons both requisites of zeal for the ser- 
vice of God and skill, who shall faithfully appropriate 
the revenue they may obtain to the completion of our 
holy undertaking, and give a correct account m due 
form to the Justice and Town Council. 

Thus, I, Prudencio Orobio de Basterra, Governor and 

Captain General of the province of Texas and New 

Philippines have decreed and signed, to which I testify. 

Prudencio de Orobio Basterra. 

Signed before me Francisco Joseph de Arocha. 

Town of San Fernando, Government of Texas and 
New Philippines, the 18th day of February, 1738. 

We the Justice and Town Council of which we are 
members, Manuel de Nis and Ignacio Lorenzo de Armas 
both ordinary Alcaldes, and the Ayidores, Juan Leal 
Goraz, Juan Curbelo, Antonio de Los Santos, Juan Leal 
Albarez, Vicente Albarez Travieso and Antonio Rodri- 
guez in pursuance of the above decree, do hereby ap- 
point the Chief Alguazil of this town, Vicente Albarez 
Travieso and Francisco Jose de Arocha, trustees for the 
construction of a Parish Church under the invocation of 
the Virgin de la Candalaria and our Lady ot Guada- 
lupe, which construction is to be completed by means 
of the donations offered by the residents of this town 
and the Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, on a site 
already appointed. Said Church shall be thirty varas 
in length and six in breadth, including vestry and bap- 
tismal chapel, its principal door opening to the east and 
fronting on the Plaza of this town, and its rear door 
to the West and fronting on the Plaza of the Presidio. 
With full confidence in the zeal and skill ot the two 
aforesaid Trustees, we expect that they will use their 
utmost exertions for the workmanlike construction ot 
said Parish Church, and give due and correct account 
of their receipts and disbursements. 

In consequence whereof, we hereby notify them of 
their appointment, in order that without loss ot time, 
they may take such measures as may be conducive to 

—185— 



the completion of our Holy undertaking. And for due 
authenticity of these presents, we have jointly signed, 
the day, month and year, as above saidj those who were 
unable to write making a mark instead of their signa- 
ture -II-, Ignaeio Lorenzo, -||-, Juan Leal Gorad 
Antonio de Los Santos Juan Leal, Vicente Albarez 
Travieso, -||-, Antonio Rodriguez Mederos, Francisco 
Jose de Arocha. 

Before adjourning, we the Justice and Town Council, 
notified the Trustees therein mentioned, of the above 
act who have accepted as they do, hereby accept the 
appointment of Trustees made in their persons and 
promised that, without loss of time, they will appro- 
priate for the construction of said Parish Church such 
donations as they may receive for that purpose, and 
give due and faithful accounts of their receipts and 
disbursements to such judges or justices who may take 
cognizance thereof. Given and signed by the Justice 
and Town Council, -||-, Ign^cio Lorenzo de Armas, 
Juan Leal Goraz, Antonio Santos, Juan Leal, Vicente 
Albarez Travieso, Antonio Rodriguez Mederos, Fran- 
cisco Jose de Arocha. 

Town of San Fernando, Government of Texas and 
New Philippines, the 25th day of February, 1738. The 
following amounts were received by the aforesaid Trus- 
tees, already mentioned, residents of said town and the 
Presidio of San Antonio, to be appropriated to the erec- 
tion of a Parish Church to-wit: (Here follows the 
names and amount subscribed.) 

Don Prudencia Orobio Basterra, Governor and Cap- 
tain General of this Province, $200 ; Don Juan Rezio de 
Leon, Curate, Vicar and Eclesiastic Justice, $25; Don 
Jose de Urrutia, Captain of the Company of said Presi- 
dio, $100; Don Manuel de Nis, Ordinary Alcalde of 
first vote, offered ten cart loads of stones ; Don Ignaeio 
Lorenzo de Armas Ordinary Alcalde of second vote, 
$10 ; Don Juan Leal Goraz, Senior Regidor, offered one 
yearling bull, worth $4; Don Antonio de Los" Santos 
Regidor $10; Don Juan Curbelo, Regidor, $10; Don 

— 18(>- 



Juan Leal Albarez, Regidor, offered 10 fanegas of corn 
at $2 each $20; Don Vicente Albarez Travieso, first 
Alguazil, $20; Don Francisco Jose de Arocha, $10; 
Don Antonio Rodriguez Mederos, Collector of the town 
revenues, offered 20 cart loads of stones ; Jose Leal 
offered 2 f anegas of corn and a yearling bull worth $8 : 
Patricio Rodriguez, $10; Francisco Delgado, $10; Juan 
Delgado, $10; Jose Antonio Rodriguez, $20; Martin 
Lorenzo de Armas, offered one yearling bull, $4; Anto- 
nio Ximenes offered one yearling bull, $4; Bernardo 
Joseph offered one yearling bull, $6; Francisco Decal 
y Musquiz, $6. 

Mjembers of Presidial Garrison : Don Matheo Lezrez, 
Lieutenant in said Company, offered two yearling bulls, 
$8; Don Juan Galban, Ensign in said Company, $6; 
Ascensio del Raso, Sergeant in said Company, $10; 
Manuel de Caravaxal, $2; Juan Flores, $1; Antonio 
Martin Saucedo, $1; Francisco Flores, $4; Lorenzo de 
Castro, $2; Nicolas de Caravaxal, $4; Thoribio da 
Urutia, $1; Mathias de La Cerda, 50 cents; Luis Mal- 
donaldo, $2; Pedro Contrillo, $1; Cayetano Perez, $4; 
Jose Padron, $10; Sebastian Rincon, 50 cents; Joseph 
Ximines 50 cents; Jose Antonio Flores, $1; Andres 
Hernandes, $2; Xavier Perez, $4; Ignacio Urrutia, $10; 
Pedro de Urrutia, $5; Joachin de Urrutia $2; Miguel 
Nunez Murillo, $30 ; Don Gabriel Costales, Captain Com- 
manding the Presidio de la Bahia del Espiritu Santo, 
$25. To which must be added the amount of alms 
collected on the 11th of M]ay, the day of the laying of 
the cornerstone, $17.75. Total, $642.25. 

We, the Justice and members of the Council of this 
town, assembled in ordinary session, for conferring on 
matters relative to our common welfare, in view of the 
decree therein above extended, of the Govrnor and Cap- 
tain General of this Province, Don Prudencio Orobio de 
Basterra, in view also of the annexed instruments, and 
of the small amount of donations offered toward the 
erection of a church, have resolved that the donations 
shall be transmitted to Don Juan Recio de Leon, Curate, 

—187— 



Vicar and Ecclesiastic Justice of this town and corres- 
ponding jurisdiction, in order that he be pleased to 
declared said church a Parish Church, under the above 
mentioned invocation and patronage, said decision and 
declaration to be transmitted to the Trustees appointed 
by us, who will state herein below, whatever further dona- 
tions they may receive toward our pious undertaking. 

Resolved and signed by the Justice and members of 
the Council of said town, the second day of May, 1738, 
to which I, the Secretary do certify : Ignacio Lorenzo de 
Armas, Juan Leal Goraz, -||~, Antonio Santos, Juan 
Leal, Vicente Alborez Travieso. 

I, Don Juan Recio de Leon, Curate, Vicar and Eccle- 
siastic Justice of this town of San Fernando, and the 
Royal Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, in view of the 
decree of the Governor of this Province, February 17, 
1738, and of other acts before mentioned, including the 
act of transferring to me the donations by the Council 
of this town, in date of the end of May instant. 

I hereby declare that having waited on the Governor, 
Don Prudencio Orobio de Basterra, in his mansion and 
there exposed to Hjis Excellency the indecent condition 
of the place appropriated for the celebration of. the 
Holy Sacrifice of the Miass, the same being a room in 
the quarters of the soldiers of the garrison, having no 
safe place wherein to deposit the ornaments, without a 
Tabernacle and Font, with clods of earth for substitutes 
for an altar, the whole being eminently adverse to, and 
abusive of the decorum which should attend the mini- 
strations of the Holy Sacraments; His Excellency's 
christian heart felt deeply all these inconveniences and 
in consequence, issued tlio before mentioned decree here- 
in, and pursuant to which the illustrious Council of this 
city requested me to declare the new building erecting 
now at cost of donations offered by this poor population 
a Parish Church under the invocation of our Lady de 
La Candalaria and Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

I, therefore, by virtue of the Ecclesiastic powers with 
which I am vested in the exercise of my duties and 

—188— 



privileges, do declare that said church shall he the 
Parish Church of this town and the Presidio of San 
Antonio, under the invocation of the Holy Virgin Mary, 
Mother of God, our Lady "de La Candelaria" and our 
Lady of Guadalupe, whom I humbly pray to accept and 
look down with merciful eyes on this new edifice, tend 
to hold it, under her special protection and favor, more- 
over, San Fernando and San Antonio heing the guardians 
of this toicn and Presidio, I claim also their rights to 
this church. 

I request to be supplied with an authenticated copy 
of the donations, in order that I may forward it to his 
Eminence the illustrious Bishop of Guadalajara, who 
in view thereof will ordain whatever he judges con- 
venient for the service of both majesties — God and the 
King. 

I hereby tender my most heartfelt thanks to his Ex- 
cellency for the zeal and love for religion he evinced 
in promoting an undertaking so agreeable to both God 
and the King, nor will I omit to give this their decree 
of the illustrious town council, but in presence of the 
small amount and inefficiency of the donations col- 
lected, I most humbly request them not to relax in their 
zeal for the completion of the new edifice so important 
to the service of God. 

Considering that the Marquis of Casa Fuerte, late 
Viceroy of New Spain (may he rest in peace) when is- 
suing iiis decree for the foundation of the town of San 
Fernando, ordered that Mass should be attended in the 
Presidio of San Antonio, contiguous to said town, until 
provisions should be made for the erection of a church, 
which provisions are still to be made, I. request his Ex- 
cellency the Governor to refer to the Illustrious and 
Most Excellent Viceroy of New Spain and obtain his 
action on the subject. 

Signed at San Fernando de Bexar, the 16th day of 
June, 1738, in presence of my Secretary, to which I 
certify— Don Juan E<ecio de Leon, Signed in mv pres- 
ence, Alberto Lopez. 

—189— 




^- AiMunr ciiuf.li nf Sill Foniando. B. Carved Batismal Font, 
originally beloiiKing to the Church of Mission San Jos§. C. An- 
cent Mission Holy Water Font of hammered copper with curious 
lid and fastening. D. Old door. 



Royal Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, the 15th day 
of June, 1738. I, Don Prudencio Orobio de Basterra, 
Governor and Captain General, of Texas, certify that I 
have received the above documents: Prudencio Orobio 
de Basterra. 

The Justice and Town Council of San Fernando to 
the Governor and Captain General of Texas. 

The Justice and Town Council, in the names of their 
fellow residents of this town appear before your Ex- 
cellency in due legal form, and as best suits the welfare 
and prosperity of our town and say that in the year 
1731, when coming from the Canary Islands, we arrived 
at this destination, the King, (May God preserve Him) 
having plentifully furnished at his own expense our 
transportation by and over land, we began building our 
houses agreeably to the orders of the late Viceroy Mar- 
quis de Casafuerte on the 28th of November, 1730, lay- 
ing out a square for the erection of a church and other 
royal and public edifices. We are however, still suf- 
fering the inconvenience to attend Mass and fulfill our 
other religious duties in one of the rooms appropriated 
to that effect, when the Presidio of San Antonio de 
Bexar was built; that place is so unfit for its holy des- 
tination, and moreover in such a ruinous condition that 
a strong Christian feeling only, may induce us to ex- 
pose our lives under its roof. Your Excellency, feeling 
our sad situation and perhaps, prompted by a higher 
impulse, urged the residents of the town and soldiers 
of the garrison, to make their exertions for the con- 
struction of a church as becoming as the feeble resources 
of the country would allow, proceeded in company with 
the Town Council, to select a location to that effect and 
were pleased to contribute two hundred dollars of your 
own private purse toward the expenses of our holy un- 
dertaking, which generosity, we cannot refrain from 
acknowledging here, at the risk of wounding your Ex- 
cellency's modesty. At your Excellency and our vir- 
tuous Curate's example, the whole population and gar- 
rison, cheerfully brought their offerings m proportion 



to their reduced means, however, and although the pro 
portion and architecture of the new edifice are as mod- 
est as consistent with its destination, the amounts col- 
lected will hardly cover one-fourth of the contemplated 
expenses of construction and we have just reasons to 
apprehend a discontinuance of the work. 

In this emergency, we deem it our duty to expose to 
your Excellency, that if we are not deceived by our 
limited intelligence, the expense of construction of a 
church ought to be supported by the Royal Treasury. 
We found our assertion on the very orders already al- 
luded to of His Excellency the Marquis de Casafuerte, 
and which contains a provision that we shall attend 
Mass temporarily in the church of the Presidio of San 
Antonio until arrangements are made to build a church, 
which disposition may be construed in such manner 
that the King, our only benefactor and who has already 
shown us repeated evidences of his favor had the inten- 
tion to assume the expense of that important requisite 
for a Catholic town. 

We might be reproached had we not applied to the 
Viceroy; the reproach could, however, not be well 
founded, since we have repeatedly charged our Procu- 
raters and Deputies to the Court of Mexico to present 
our request to that effect to H'is Excellency, with other 
representations touching the welfare of our community. 
Moreover, several persons who went to Mexico for their 
private business, and were received at the Court of 
^^exico, assured us, that, when they took leave of the 
Viceroy, His Lordship was pleased to say : ' ' Go my sons, 
I have already made provisions for {he construction of 
your church." Our late Curate Don Jose de la Garza, 
pretends to know to certainty, that the Viceroy had ap- 
propriated for that purpose five thousand dollars of the 
Royal Treasury, still we never received advice of any 
such favor, and continue worshipping God in an inde- 
cent barracks room, our limited means precluding fur- 
ther pecuniary sacrifices. 

Your Excellency, who may with just title be consid- 

—192— 



ered as the first promoter of our pious undertakiug, is 
the only person to whom we recur for earthly relief in 
our sad situation. 

We therefore beg that you be pleased in view of the 
impossibilities with which we are surrounded, to make 
your exertions, consider that the Viceroy may be in- 
formed as promptly as possible of the disadvantages 
under which we are laboring, and extend to us a slight 
pecuniary assistance, by doing so, he will serve both 
God and the King. 

We beg your Excellency to receive kindly this sup- 
plication and to do as we request, by which you will 
confer on us justice and favor. We further swear to 
all the requisites, etc -||- Ignacio Lorenzo de Armas, 
Juan Leal Goras, -||- Antonio de los Santos, Juan Leal, 
Vicente Albarez Travieso, Antonio Rodriguez :\Iederos, 
Juan Delgado. 

Received the above document, a copy of which shall 
be extended in construction of the proceeding on the 
subject. The whole to be transmitted to the illustrious 
Archbishop and Viceroy, for his further action. 

Thus I, Prudeneio Orobio de Basterra, Governor and 
Captain General, have resolved and signed in presence 
of my assisting witness, for want of a notary public : 
Prudeneio Orobio de Basterra, Manuel Ramirez de la 
Pusina, I\Batheo Antonio de Harbo. 

Royal Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar July 3, 1738, 
I Don Prudeneio Orobio de Basterra; Governor and 
Captain General, ordain that Don Vicente Albarez 
Travieso, Trustee for the construction of the Church 
of San Fernando, shall appear before me, to render an 
account of the donations received by him, toward said 
construction and declare if independently of the 642 
dollars and 2 reals herein above mentioned, any other 
amounts have been offered and received. 

Thus, I have ordained and signed in presence of my 
assisting witnesses for want of a Notary Public, Pru- 
deneio de Orobio Basterra, Manuel Ramirez la Puzma, 
Matheo Antonio de Harbo. 

—193— 



Agreeably to the above decree, appeared before me 
Don Vincente Alliarez Travieso, who declared that the 
herein above included statement of moneys received by 
him is true and correct, and further said that the fol- 
lowing amounts received are to be added to said state- 
ment: From Francisco Hernandez, $10; from ^lartin 
Flores, $4; from Juan Cortinas, $4; from Jose Montez, 
$1 ; f rom Jose Perez, $3; from Jose Martinez, $2. 

The amount previouslv received as above stated, 
642,1/i. 

Forming a total of six hundred and sixty-six dollars 
and two reals ($666.25.) in full of the donations re- 
ceived by the residents of the town and soldiers of the 
garrison, those who have not contributed thus far, be- 
ing unable to do so, frc:n extreme poverty. 







^^_ .^'m.:T^''X 


'^**'*^S»'A.iiyn* 



San Fernando Cathedral as it is today. 

In testimony whereof, I, the said Governor and Don 
Vicente Albarez Travieso, have both signed in pres- 
ence of assisting witnesses, to which I certify. Pru- 
dencio de Basterra, Vicente Albarez, Travieso, IManuel 
Ramirez de Puzina, ^latheo Antonio de Harbo. 

The 20th day of June 1738, I, Don Prudencio Orobio 
de Basterra, Governor and Captain General of this 
the Province of Texas, ordained that the present copy 
should be transcribed from the original documents 
which remain in my hands, the same having been com- 
pared and corrected in presence of Captain Jose de 
Urrutia, and Lieutenant INIatheo Perez, acting with as- 
sisting witnesses in absence of a Notary Public. Pru- 

—194— 



dencio Orobio de Basterra, IManuel Ramirez de Puzina, 
Matheo Antonio Harbo. 

The original of the above was transmitted to tlie 
Viceroy, signed Basterra. The Yieeroy later eontribnted 
five thousand dollars out of the royal treasury. 



Legend of el Sefior de los Milagros. 

THE LORD OP MIRACLES. 



In the dawn of the history of San Antonio, it seems 
there was no large crucifix available in the church of 
the village — the original having been, in some way, de- 
stroyed. Some piously inclined person, Avhether Lidian 
or Mexican is not known, decided to fashion one. The 
cross was made under difficulties, and search as he 
might he could find no material for the figure of the 
Christ. To make it life-like he required the lining of 
a membrane of a kid or lamb, also a certain fluid to 
preserve it. He finally decided to make the rounds of 
the village and ask for a lamb. He could find none. 
He went again and again and finally found a tethered 
kid west of the village. Poinding the owner after a 
search, he begged her to sell it that he might kill it, 
saying that he would take only the membrane. The 
owner indignantly refused. He passed on starting back 
to the village for he w^as out near the Alazan. A very 
short time had elapsed when he heard a shot, and in a 
few minutes some one was running after him, fran- 
tically calling upon him to return. He hurriedly re- 
traced his steps and found the little kid he had offered 
to buy lying dead. ''Take it, take it!" said the owner 
excitedly. On inquiring what had hapnened, she said 
that he had hardly disappeared when a gun standing: 
against the tree was in some strange fashion, fired 
and the kid was found shot dead. The only explanation 
was that she should have given him the kid for his 

—195— 



pious purpose. "Now, there it is, take it," said the 
woman. The old man dressed the kid, removed the 
lining of the, membrane and departed, deciding that 
the good angels must have tangled up the kid with the 
gun and had it fired just right. (That was miracle 
number one.) 

When he got back home and fashioned his Christo 
to his satisfaction, he was still without the preserving 
fluid. Though he had sought the village over, none 
was to be found. Again he made a search in one of 
the store rooms of the church, where he had often looked 
before, and there was a bottle half full — all that he 
required. Where did it come from? (Miracle num- 
ber two.) 

His intentions were good, he hoped with this rude 
emblem of the suffering Christ to call to the minds of 
all beholders the cause of His sufferings — sin — and a 
greater sorrow for sin and a sincere and firm purpose 
of amendment. The crucifix completed, he placed it 
in a little shrine. Many stopped before it and reflected 
on the good God who had died to save each of them. 

The story goes that when an artistic statue of the 
crucified Christ arrived from Spain this was discarded, 
but rescued by one to whom it had grown dear from 
association and who has passed it on to succeeding gen- 
erations. 

The legend says it was called El Senor de los Mila- 
gros because of the strange or miraculous manner of its 
making — but the uniformed think that it is because 
miracles are wrought in answer to prayers — some of 
the prayers being said before the said ancient crucifix. 
Some think it is called so for both reasons. ^ 

The pious believe that heartfelt and fervent prayers 
are answered anywhere, everywhere, in ways best for 
the petitioner, — and so, while the crude ancient, un- 
prepossessing statue is not a wonder worker, the one 
it is intended to represent is indeed El Senor de los 
Milagros and no dou])t the sorrowing one who gazes at 
it realizes this fully. 

—196— 



General Lawrence De Zavala. 



One of the Makers of Texas, Honored in London, 

Paris, Madrid, and America, for Whom 

De Zavala Chapter was Named. 



(This sketch was read at De Zavahi School, San Antonio, Texas, 
November, 19ir., in cunnecriou with the ceremonies incident to the 
presentation of the portrait of De* Zavala, a gift of Mrs. W. W. 
McAllister. The program was in charge of the Parent-Teachers' 
Clnl). Mrs. H. A. Moos, President.) 

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase) 

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, 

And saw, within the moonlight in his room, 

Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, 

An angel writing in a book of gold. 

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, 

And to the presence in the room he said, 

"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, 

And, with a look made of all sweet accord, 

Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." 

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," 

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low. 

But cheerily still, and said "I pray thee then, 

Write me as one that loves his fellow men." 

The angel wrote and vanished. The next night 

He came again, with a great wakening light 

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, 

And, lo ! Ben Adhem 's name led all the rest ! 

The keynote of the life of Lawrence (Lorenzo) De 
Zavala was love of his fellow men. He was ardently 
patriotic and possessed an insatiable desire for increased 
knowledge. Duty Avas his watchword. These three 
heart's desires ruled his life and he stands forth in the 
history of Texas as the philanthropist and the scholar. 
Mirabeau B. Lamar in his inaugural address, "all un- 
conscious that the great patriot was even then nearing 
the valley of the shadow of death," refers to his friend, 
De Zavala, in these graceful and comprehensive words: 

—197— 




General Lawrence (Lorenzo) De Zavala, First Vice-President of 
the Republic of Texas; Signer of the Declaration of Texas In- 
dependence. 



-198— 



"Gentlemen, I should be doing injustice to my own 
feelings were I to resume my seat without paying to 
my predecessor in office that tribute of respect to which 
he is justly entitled by his public as Avell as private 
virtues. Through the period of a long life the ex-vice- 
president, Governor De Zavala, has been the unwavering 
and consistent friend of liberal principles and of free 
government. Among the first movers of the revolution, he 
has never departed from the pure and sacred principles 
upon which it was originally founded. This steady and 
unyielding devotion to the holy cause of liberty has been 
amply rewarded by the confidence of the virtuous por- 
tion of two republics. The gentleman, the scholar and 
the patriot, he goes into retirement with the undivided 
affection of his fellow citizens: and I know, gentlemen, 
that I only express your own feelings when I say thac 
it is the wish of every member of this assembly that the 
evening of his days may be as tranquil and happy as the 
meridian of his life has been useful and honorable." 

A gentleman, a patriot, a scholar and one who loves 
his fellowmen. What a fine ideal for the youth of any 
land; and for the youth of Texas; and for the pupils 
of this particular school which bears his name. You have 
a right to be proud of your school for the excellent work 
it has done and is doing and of the name it bears. No 
name emblazoned on history's pages is superior. You 
need yield to none in rank of namesake. Each great 
Texan achieved in his own line, and De Zavala's field 
of achievement was the alleviation of suffering, the uplift 
and awakening of his fellow men, in educating them 
and otherwise serving and ministering to them. He 
started and put in successful operation the first system 
of free primary schools, if not in the United States and 
America, at least the first in America this side of the 
AUeghenies. He founded and edited the first political 
newspaper in the same territory. 

In personal attainment he had no equal in Texas. He 
read, wrote and spoke fluently English, French, German, 
Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, and Latin and other 

— !99— 



languages. His research work attracted world-wide at- 
tention, and among many honors accorded him he was 
made a member of the Geographical and Scientific So- 
ciety of France, an honor of distinction even of the 
present day comparable with that of election to the 
French Academy. At the Court of St. James, England, 
and the Court of St. Cloud, France,* he was sought after 
and honored highly as well as at the Court of IMadrid, 
and elsewhere in Europe. He was the author of the 
Constitution of 1824, and his name is the one signed 
first to that instrument as the president of the Congress 
adopting it. He openly advocated the separation of 
Texas from Mexico before many would dare to even think 
of it, and in a speech made at Harrisburg gave his views 
in so logical a manner that the legal phases were made 
clear to all. This speech was printed and sent broad- 
east over the State and did much to present the question 
of independence properly and calmly before the people 
of Texas. He was elected as a delegate to the Consulta- 
tion which he had suggested and urged should be held 
and for which he set the date when it should be held. 
He was also a member of the Convention and was placed 
on every important committee whose work helped to 
form the Republic of Texas. 

He was one of the framers of the Constitution and 
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
He was one of a committee of five appointed to design 
a flag for the Republic of Texas, and it was his design 
that was the one accepted as the flag of the Republic, 
which may be seen by reference to the journals of the 
convention in 1836. He was elected the first Vice 
President of the new Republic and later undertook, 
by special request, the translation of the new laws and 
declarations into the Spanish language for the benefit 

*The jrolil lace mnrkerl D., shown in a cut herewith, whicli, artornerl 
a suit worn liy (Jeneral De Zavahi when he was amliassador to the 
Court of Louis Philippe, was ripped from his trousers by Mrs. Jane 
Harris, at H.irrishurfr. Texas, in 1S36. When the Civil War broke 
ovvt. inspired by the nacredness of the cause of the South Mrs. Mary 
.Tane Briscoe, daujjhter of Mrs. Harris, trimmed the cap of a younpr 
Captain with part of the gold lace which she treasured as a precious 
relic. In 1901, she gave each of his grandaufrhters. the Misses 
Adina and Mary De Zavala, a piece of the lace. 

—200— 



of the great body of the people living in Texas. Be- 
fore this date all legal matters were transacted in Span- 
ish, the majority reading that language alone. De 
Zavala was a friend of Lafayette, Louis Philippe, Adams, 
Jackson and other prominent people of the time. He 
was a descendant of an ancient and noble line. His 
father and all his ancestors w^ere patriots and he grew 
up with this love of liberty and righteousness deep in 
his soul. When quite a young man he exhorted his school- 
mates on "Patriotic Conduct," "Liberty" and other 
kindred subjects. He later formed his friends and 
schoolmates into a society where they studied the serious 
political questions of the day and debated upon them. 
He edited a paper while still a young man at school 
the better to disseminate his ideas and ideals. He also 
delivered lectures to his followers, members of his so- 
ciety and other bodies. These lectures and writings 
were always given with a view of instructing, elevating 
and encouraging the people at large and his friends and 
neighbors in particular. Young, ardent, enthusiastic, full 
of noble aspirations and honorable sympathies, he evin- 
ced a strong interest in the cause of the whole people 
and bodily declared himself their friend. Even as a boy 
the gravity and nobility and patriotism. of his character 
and his mental and physical vigor commended him to 
those about him and responsibility and command were 
entrusted to his hads at an age when most young men 
were still in college. 

De Zavala's following became so great and his popu- 
larity was such that the IMexican authorities be^an to 
fear for their leadership. At this time he left for Europe, 
where he enjoyed the advantages of a regular collegiate 
education. Thus he spent much of his early life 
amidst scientific associations eminently calculated to 
impart polish and refinement to his manners and give 
expansion and vigor to his understandig. Before re- 
turing to America he traveled over Europe, and studied 
customs and conditions. The efforts that he made at 
Madrid, Paris, London and elsewhere for the recogni- 

—201— 



tion of the independence of Miexico gained for him fame 
as an eminent statesman. He was one of the most zeal- 
ous friends of ;that whole train of measures, the adop- 
tion of which led ultimately to the severance of the 
Spanish colonies in America from the mother country. 
By the boldness and freedom of his declaration on 
this subject, while a delegate to the Spanish Cortez in 
1820, and during the subsequent year he was one of the 
greatest factors in obtaining the freedom so ardently 
longed for. Returning from Europe, he was every- 
where hailed as a hero. He arrived at New Orleans on 
the 20th of December, 1827, and spent several months 
there. 

De Zavala was chosen a deputy to the first Congress, 
and the National Tribune those days reverberated with 
his eloquence. He took up the debate as a champion of 
popular rights, maintaining the thesis that fees were 
taxes, and that taxes should not be levied upon the 
people except by the consent of their representatives. 
In 1883 De Zavala was elected for the sixth time as 
National Representative. His triumphs at this period 
of his parliamentary labors are found published in the 
newspapers of that time. Now a man of mature and 
of large and profound experience, he spoke witliout 
hate and bitterness he pitied the frenzy of his party 
friends, he depised the attacks of enemies, and showed 
that superiority and grandeur of soul which years 
alone, with a consciousness of good deeds and talents 
cultivated in the school of the world could give. The 
envious appeared miserable pigmies by his side, weakly 
opposing what irritated them. He desired progress, 
light, and all the social improvements to which a nation 
had a right to aspire, and to this all his plans and in- 
clinations tended. The ''Old Alcalde," Governor Oran 
I\r. lioberts, often referred to him as the most far- 
sighted and greatest contsructive statesman of his age, , 
and as the one figure in Texas histoiy over whom a 
halo is cast, in that it can not be even suspected that 
one thought of self entered into his life long work for 
the uplift of his fellowmen. 

—202— 




A. Silver Document Cnse with Chased Gold Lids or Tops, belong- 
ing to General De Zavala. B. Lake in the Crater of the Sierra 
Toluca de Nevada. C. De Zavala Home, opposite the battlefield 
of San Jacinto. Bivffalo Bayou. I). Gold lace from pantaloons of 
Lawrence De Zavala, worn by him when ambassador to the Court 
of France when Louis Philippe was King. 



Among the many incidents of his life, showing self- 
forgetfulness, is one which does him much honor. lie 
was in Mexico, when a frightful epidemic of cholera 
occurred ( the very thought of which caused all to shud- 
der.) De Zavala, among his other accomplishments, had 
studied medicine, taken his degree and practiced for 
several years. He immediately devoted himself person- 
ally to assist the suffering, aiding the poor and weak 
with his purse and knowledge of medicine. He gave 
his help to all who called for him, whether high or low, 
without price, giving his special service in the lazaretto, 
which he ordered established for those attacked by the 
plague. In those days of fear and consternation De 
Zavala forgot self and the Civil War and thought only 
of succoring the afflicted. In memory of this a monu- 
ment and street bears his name. On another occasion, 
when Governor, in Mexico, a deputation of Indians 
appealed to him for succor and justice. They had ap- 
pealed to their immediate authorities time and again 
without success. When they called upon De Zavala 
he received them kindly and heard their complaint. 
Upon investigation he found they had cause for gritn^- 
ance. Their village was situated at the foot of the 
Mountain of Toluca, where for ages the inhabitants of 
the village had received their supply of fresh water 
from a lake on the top of this mountain. Some wealthy 
owner or syndicate had diverted the course of the 
stream and deprived the Indians of water. De Zavala, 
taking a number of workmen, with axes and othei- im- 
plements, accompanied by his escort, elimlied the moun- 
tain, winding round and round its steep sides, until 
the summit was reached. Here in this beautiful and 
picturesque spot, he found where the water had been 
diverted by sluices. These he ordered cut and the pure 
sparkling water went bounding down its old way to the 
Indian village at the foot of the Sierra de Toluca. Mrs. 
De Zavala, who was on her first visit to IMjexico, ac- 
companied him part of the way on this ride. As they 
came down they were very much surprised to find a 

—204— 



large number of the inhabitants of the Indian village in 
the valley, intercepting their path, bearing garlands and 
baskets of flowers, which they strewed in the pathway 
before Governor and IMrs. De Zavala twining their horses 
with the garlands and decorating the trees along the 
path they were to follow. The thanks and appreciation 
of these poor villagers was touching, and it was indeed 
a beautiful and poetic sight. 

Of De Zavala as an author, Henry Stuart Foote, the 
historian, says: ''From his connection with public af- 
fairs he became conspicuous as a friend to science and 
scietnific men; this was but natural, since his own mind 
was the repository of a vast fund of valuable learning, 
which he was continually pouring forth for the benefit 
of his fellowmen. His scholastic attainments will not 
fail of commanding the respect of all who have read his 
two spirited and elegant historic volumes entitled "The 
Revolution of New Spain," in which he has given to 
the world a graphic and accurate narrative of all the rev- 
ultionary transactions in Mexico from the year 180.S 
to the year 1830, and in a temperate, dignified and phil- 
osophic manner has explained all the conflicting infla- 
ences which marked twenty-two years of almost contin- 
uous intestine convulsions. But his chief glory cer- 
tainly consists in having projected and put in success- 
ful operation a grand system of primary schools. 

On another trip to Europe, about 1830, he again 
visited all the countries of Europe, spending much time 
in each, England, Scotland, Holland, Belgium, Ger- 
many Switzerland and Italy, making his headquarters 
at Paris. His "Journey Through Switzerland," writ- 
ten at this time is highly spoken of. Of his "Travels 
in the United States," a well known critic and historian 
says: "This is one of the few books of travel in the 
United States worth reading, and is a fine picture of 
American manners, customs and institutions, Avith some 
notice of Austin's colonization in Texas. De Zavala 

*Mrs De Zavaln was written up in the Court Journals, in France, 
as being tiie most beautiful woman in the court circles. 

—205— 





Mrs. De Zav.ila. wife of tlie First Vice-President of Texas, wlio 
gave up her home to the sick and wounded soldiers after the 
battle of San Jacinto, and in order to be near at hand to minister 
to them, she camped in the field wih her three small children. 

—206— 



aided Austin in effecting his release from imprisonment, 
lightened his confinement, and materially assisted Texas 
in preparing for the inevitable conflict with Mexico." 
De Zavala resigned his place as minister to France be- 
cause as a true patriot and an uncompromising friend 
of liberty he would not serve a corrupt government. 
His description of the ruins of Ushmal is the earliest 
extant, and was written in French and read before 
the noted Geographical and Scientific Society of Paris, 
of w^hich he was a member. Among his otlier works 
were important state papers and political writings. "He 
was in every case the impartial critic, the wise and 
judicious public man, the historian, the philosopher, 
the economist and the man of state." 

The historian, Foote, says: ''The history of Vice- 
President De Zavala was marked with such a num- 
ber of extraordinary adventures, both in Europe and 
America, as well to justify an elaborate biography 
at the hands of some one qualified for the task; 
and it is to be hoped that his intimate personal 
friend and former political associate, General ]\Iirabeau 
B. Lamar, who has been for some time looked to on 
this subject, will yet find leisure to do full justice to the 
brilliant merits of one who lent much dignity to the 
Texan struggle for independence and liberty." But it 
must be acknowledged that his course had been such as 
to supply a new provocative to Santa Anna's ferocity 
for on tile 7th of August preceding the demand of his 
person, he had published an address to the citizens of 
Texas in which he very ably exposed the whole villainy 
of Santa Anna's course, and encouraged his brother 
Texans to heroic resistance. The reader will peruse, I 
doubt not, the concluding portion of this address, as 
it certainly had much effect at the time in imparting 
method as well as efficiency to the operations of the 
Texans. 

It concludes: "The fundamental compact having 
been dissolved, and all the guarantees of the civil and 
political rights of citizens having been destroyed, it is 

—207— 



incontestable that all the States of the Confederation 
are left at liberty to act for themselves, and to provide 
for their security and preservation as circumstances 
may require. Coahuila and Texas formed a State of the 
Republic, and, as one part of it is occupied by an in- 
vading force, the free part of it should proceed to 
organize a power which would restore harmony and es- 
tablish order and uniformity in all the branches of the 
public administration, which should be a rallying point 
for the citizens whose hearts now tremble for liberty. 
But as this power can be organized only by means of a 
convention, which should represent the free will of the 
citizens of Texas, it is my opinion that this step should 
be taken, and I suggest the 15th day of October as a 
time sufficient to allow all the departments to send their 
representatives. ' ' 

His colleagues in the first Congress of the Republic 
of Texas, over whom he presided as the_>4ce president 
of Texas, were constantly addressing him by one title 
or another to which he was properly entitled, but as a 
Democrat he opposed all distinctions and titles and it 
was distinctly distasteful to him to be addressed by a 
title. It is of record in the' proceedings of the first Con- 
egress, that he addressed them on the subject and asked 
'them to address him as plain Mr., saying that he did 
not wish any one to feel that he was above or beyond 
them for an accident of birth or a title — that to be an 
honest man and a citizen of a free republic, able and 
willing to serve his family, friends and fellowmen, ought 
to be privilege enough for any man. That titles were 
man-given, but that an honest man was the noblest work 
of God. 

He was also an empreario, bringing out and colonizing 
at his own expense a number of families in De Zavala's 
Colony — extending from the Sabine River on the east to 
the Trinity on the west and tlie Gulf of ]\Iexico on the 
south and a line through Nacogdoches on the north. 

His present resources were always subject to the call 
of unfortunate friends, and there are many descendants 

—208— 



of those friends whom he has tided over rough places 
still living in San Antonio. He was too noble to be 
suspicious, too brave to be envious, too magnanimous 
to be jealous. His name is indelibly stamped on the 
pages of Texas history as the gentleman and the pa- 
triot, but pre-eminently the philanthropist and the 
scholar. It is perpetuated in the name of one of the 
counties of Texas, in the name of streets, schools, com- 
panies — a town in East Texas within the ))orders of his 
empresario grant, is named -for him. His name is in- 
scribed on the $50,000 monument at Galveston, given 
by Henry Rosenberg; a battleship was named for him 
by the Republic of Texas. An oil painting by a cele- 
brated artist was purchased by the State of Texas ancl 
ordered hung in the Senate chamber, at the right of the 
speaker's desk, where it may be seen. Mexico and Yu- 
catan has honored him for his philanthropic work and 
work done as a Statesman in the National Congress. 
The name of Yucatan was changed to Yucatan De 
Zavala, and streets have been named and monuments 
erected in his honor. London, Madrid and Paris hon- 
ored him. 

One writer thus sums up his life, ''A man of talents, 
of rare virtues, scholarly and gentlemanly^ accomplish- 
ments, forbearing, patient and constant, prudent in pri- 
vate life and to crown all that he was in every sense of 
the word an honest man whose word was as good as his 
bond. Of all the signers of the Declaration he risked 
most. He was the wealthiest man in the colonies 
at the beginning of the revolution. He knew no day 
of rest from the moment, when in his youth he con- 
secrated his efforts to humanity, to the close of the 
eventful year of 1836, when in the midst of unremitting 
labor for the new republic he had helped to found, his 
great soul passed to the eternal life. Having passed 
through the dark and stormy times of the revolution, 
in which he took an active part and which he was largelj^ 
instrumental in bringing to a successful issue, he was 
now fast approaching his end. His long imprisonment 

—209— 



in the damp dungeon of San Juan de Ulloa ; his harass- 
ing duties in aiding to organize the government and 
framing the laws of a new nation, and other duties rest- 
ing upon him, gave him no time to attend to his health 
or even think of it. The immediate cause of his death 
was the overturning of a canoe in which he was cross- 
ing Buffalo Bayou with his small son, Augustine De 
Zavala. He rescued the boy, placing him upon the over- 
turned canoe, and swam with him to the shore. He 
contracted a severe cold, which developed into pneu- 
monia, from which he died November 15, 1836. On 
k^arning of his death Congress passed suitable resolu- 
tions of regret and adjourned on motion of Mr. Ellis as a 
further manifestation of the respect that body had for 
their late vice president. They further named a com- 
mittee of three to consider and report to the Senate 
the most suitable manner for Congress to manifest its 
respect for his memory. The Telegraph and Texas Reg- 
ister of November 26, 1836, .contains this obituary: 
''Died on the 5th inst. at his residnece on the San Ja- 
cinto, our distinguished and talented fellow citizen, Lo- 
renzo De Zavala. In the death of this enlightened and 
patriotic statesmen, Texas has lost one of her most 
valuable citizens, the cause of liberal principles one of 
its most untiring advocates and society one of its bright- 
est ornaments. His travels have procured him an ex- 
tensive acquaintance with mankind; his writings have 
justly elevated him to a high rank as an author; and 
the part he has played in the revolution of his country 
and his uncompromising exertions in favor of Republi- 
can institutions have erected to his memory a monu- 
ment more durable than brass. His death will be la- 
mented by the admirable and interesting family which 
he has left and the large number of friends which he 
has acquired through a life devoted to the cause of 
liberty and the service of mankind." 

All Texas mourned his loss, and in particular San 
Antonio. To friends in the Alamo and the town of 
Bexar he had set a special courier to warn them of the 

—210— 



coming of Santa Anna. Brown concludes the story of 
De Zavala in these words: "He presents one of the 
most spotless and exalted characters of modern times, 
and his memory should be cherished by the children of 
Texas as one of the purest patriots of this or any other 
age." 

''How far away is the Temple of GoodT' 

Said a youth at the dawn of day; 
And he strove in a spirit of brotherhood, 
To help and succor, as best he could, 
The poor and unfortunate multitude 

On their hard and dreary way. 

He likewise strove with adversity. 

To climb to the heights above; 
But his dream w^as ever of men made free. 

Of better days in the time to be. 
And self was buried in sympathy. 

He followed the path of love. 

He was careless alike of praise or blame ; 

But after his work was done. 
An angel of glory, from heaven came. 

And wrote on high his immortal name, 
Proclaiming this truth, that the Temple of Fame 

And the Temple of good are one. 
For this is the lesson that History 

Has taught since the world began; 
The great, whose memories never die, 

That shine like stars in our human sky 
And brighter glow as the years roll by. 

Are those who have lived for Man. 

— J. A. Edgerton, in Rocky Mountain News. 




-211— 



(,<,' 



•The De Zavala Daughters/' 

Descendants of the Heroes, Pioneers, Founders and 

Statesmen of Texas, 

and 

THE DE ZAVALA CHAPTER. 



About 1889, a band of patriotic women in San An- 
tonio, Texas, associated themselves and met occasion- 
ally to keep green die memory of the heroes, founders 
and pioneers of Texas; — to formulate methods of arous- 
ing the dormant patriotism of the majority of their 
fellow-citizens; to devise ways of inculcating and dis- 
seminating a wider knowledge of the history of Texas; 
and of instilling a love and proper pride in town, city, 
county and State; acting on the belief that patriotism, 
like charity, begins at home, and that if one does not 
love his home he will not love his country, and that like 
every virtue, patriotism should be fostered. 

This band was called into existence on the invitation 
of ]\l<iss Adina De Zavala. They wrote historic artic- 
cles, gathered historical data, and in various ways en- 
deavored to arouse ]niblic sentiment for the care and 
restoration of the ]\nssions of Texas, and all historic 
places, and everything pertaining to Texas; and for 
a more general display of the Texas flag. 

On November 6, 1891, in Houston, Texas, at the 
residence of ]\Irs. Andrew Briscoe, a society was organi- 
zed composed of the wives, daughters, and lineal female 
descendants of the men who served the Republic of 
Texas. The Association was suggested by Mr. Guy M. 
Bryan, and urged by his niece. Miss Betty Ballinger, 
his daugliter, ^liss Hally Bryan, and by Mrs. Mary 
Jane Briscoe. Among the ladies assisting in the or- 
ganization were ^lesdames M. Looscan, IM. G. Howe, 
J. M. 0. Menard, W. E. Kendall, C. H. Hume, W. R. 
Rol)ertson, and Ernest Vasmer. 

Believing that more good, in general historical and 
patriotic work could be accomplished by the united 

—212— 



efforts of the descendants of the pioneers over the 
State, the San Antonio ladies, descendants of the he- 
roes of Texas, joined hands with the women who had 
organized for purposes similar to the San Antonio 
band, and De Zavala Chapter was founded. Miss Adina 
De Zavala being elected President. 

The historic locality of San Antonio afforded a rich 
field of effort for De Zavala Chapter, and labor as they 
might there was always urgent work ahead and more 
funds needed for its prosecution. However, they were 
determined and patriotic, and year by year they grew 
in numbers, in record of work accomplished, and in the 
affections of the people. 

This Society started the campaign to save the Mis- 
sions of Texas, and succeeded in awakening considera- 
ble interest, and Mission San Jose was repaired, and 
fenced, and a custodian employed by the Society at a 
cost of several hundred dollars. 

Ben Milam's grave was rescued from oblivion, and a 
neat monument was erected which now marks his last 
resting place, near the center of Milam Park. 

The work of placing tablets on all historic buildings, 
battlefields, >sites, roads and trees was inaugurated; 
and of marking with name tablets, the schools named 
in honor of the heroes of Texas. 

A tablet was placed upon the Veramendi House — the 
residence of the Vice-Governor Veramendi — the house 
where Bowie wooed and won his bride, Ursula Vera- 
mendi ; and where brave Ben > Milam was killed — the 
house connected with so much old time history of San 
Antonio and Texas. 

A marble tablet was placed upon the main building 
of the Alamo Fortress to emphasize its importance as 
the scene of the sublimest sacrifice recorded in modern 
history. 

Historical paintings, manuscripts, writings, data, old 
and rare books, relics, and other articles of virtu per- 
taining to Texas were collected; and all such entrusted 
to their care are sacredly kept. 

—213— 



A picture of one of the relics, the old bell "San 
Antonio," a most cherished gift of Mr. Moses Oppen- 
heimer, will be found in this volume. 

Many of the old and historic buildings, street names, 
etc., were long saved to the people by the efforts of this 
society. A resolution w^as secured from the School 
Board of the City of San Antonio, naming the public 
schools in honor of the Texas heroes; the School Board 
using the names and assignments as suggested by De 
Zavala Chapter. 

This society welcomed all artists to the City of San 
Antonio and planned a free School of Art. On ap- 
plication to the City authorities the old Market House 
on Market Street was leased to them for a number of 
years, the building overhauled and cleaned up, and 
the material obtained and placed on the ground for 
the repair and proper fitting up of the building for 
a School of Art — Art in every line — painting, sculpture, 
architecture, etc., was to be fostered. Mr. Pompeo Cop- 
pini and others agreed to give their services to the 
school for certain hours each week. In fact, all ar- 
rangements were complete — when the School Board 
and the City became involved in a law-suit, the Market 
House was claimed by the former, and sold, and the 
School of Art was without a home. The De Zavala 
Daughters next planned to use part of the Fortress of 
the Alamo for this purpose. Selfish "interests" pre- 
vented this, but the society continued to do all in their 
power, for the advancement of art in every phase. 

They contributed largely for the purpose of present- 
ing pictures of historic persons to the school houses of 
Texas; and for a liandsome silk Texas flag given to the 
University of Texas, and also contributed to the pur- 
chase of the silk Texas flag placed in the Texas room 
at Mount Vernon. 

Numberless other things were done by this society 
working always t^oward the highest id^alsj, and the 
uplift of present and future generations of the citizens 
of Texas. 

—214— 



The largest amount of money ever obtained by an 
organization from the State of Texas was secured by 
the De Zavala Daughters for the payment of the bal- 
ance due on their notes given to Charles Hugo, (of Hugo, 
Schmeltzer Co.) through the Chairman of their Alamo 
Mission Fund Committee, for the purchase of the Alamo 
Port— Sixty-five Thousand Dollars ($65,000.00) being 
the amount appropriated by the State of Texas— De 
Zavala Chapter having already expended about Twenty 
Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) towards its purchase. 

This society welcomed all artists to the City of San 
they had just secured the purchase and the CHURCH 
of THE ALAMO, were delivered to the custody of the 
De Zavala Daughters, and immediately, a set of selfish 
and ambitious persons — caring nothing for the good 
of the people of Texas, or children of Texas, or of the 
proper keeping of the Alamo— began to plan to secure 
control of that sacred shrine. A syndicate which 
had options on adjoining property decided that 
the Alamo Fortress stood in the way of the enhance- 
ment of the value of lots owned or controlled by them 
and they applied to the De Zavala Daughters to tear 
down the old ALAMO FORTRESS. These ladies re- 
plied that even the wish to do such a thing was sacri- 
legious, and with great care explained the history of 
the Alamo^but, it was personal gain versus patriotism 
—and the said interests refused to yield to patriotism 
and announced a determination, "by fair or foul 
measures," because it stood in front of their property, 
(i. e. in which they were interested),— to bring a])Out the 
destruction of the main building of the Alamo Fortress 
just purchased by the De Zavala Daughters and the 
State of Texas. 

About this time, the property east of the Alamo, on 
the corner of Hbuston and Nacogdoches Streets was 
sold, and an attempt was made by the St. Louis pur- 
chasers to bring about the destruction of the main 
building of the Alamo Fortress, which is 191 feet m 
length running from Houston Street, south, along the 

—215— 



east side of Alamo Plaza. The Hotel Company was 
not satisfied with the two side street frontages, but 
desired to face the hotel on Alamo Plaza. As the prop- 
erty they had acquired was back of the Alamo and ran 
along the east side of the Alamo ditch or acequia which 
was then plainly visible, they could do this only by 
tearing away the Alamo Fort — the main building of 
the Alamo where the heroes died — and they endeavored 
to interest a number of San Antonio business men with 
the hope that the latter would use their influence to 
bring about the destruction of the Alamo Fort proper 
which stood in the way of an Alamo Plaza frontage for 
their hotel. The following letters may be of interest: 

St. Louis, Uo., August 30, 1906. 

Miss Adina De Zavala, President De Zavala Daughters, 

San Antonio, Texas. 
Dear Madam: 

About ten days ago as the representative of St. Louis 
parties I bought the north half of the Gallagher prop- 
erty adjoining the Alamo in San Antonio. It is the 
earnest desire of my clients to improve this property 
in a manner creditable to ourselves and to the city, 
and if proper encouragement is given by the Daughters 
of Texas, and the citizens of San Antonio, a splendid 
structure costing approximately $500,000 will be erected. 
Will you kindly present this letter to your society at 
the earliest possible moment and advise me of whatever 
action may be taken? 

If my clients decide to erect a hotel on the site, it 
will be perhaps the handsomest building of the kind in 
the southwest. Bofo^-e they can determine upon their 
course of action, however, they must have some positive 
assurances that the owners of the Ilugo-Schmeltzer 
property (meaning the owners of the main building of 
the Alamo Fort*) intend to tear down the building (the 
main building of the Alamo Fort) now occupied by 
that firm, and that the ground on which it stands 

♦Bracketed words are by writer. 
—216— 



will be converted into a park. This, I was informed 
while in your city, the State of Texas or the De Zavala 
Daughters have agreed to do. If this information is 
correct, we are not only prepared to go ahead with our 
plans, but to materially assist your society in carrying 
out the work. 

In order to asist your organization, I beg to advise 
that we will be willing to assume the entire expense of 
tearing down these buildings (the main building of 
the Alamo) and removing the debris, and also to con- 
tribute toward the expense of the landscape work nec- 
essary to convert the premises into a park. I have 
written the Business Men's Club on this subject and 
enclose herewith the letter addressed to the president of 
the club. I have also taken the liberty of enclosing 
to the president of that club a copy of this letter to 
you, in order that all parties interested may have full 
and complete understanding of our plans and purposes 
so far as they have been matured up to this time. . . . 
Very sincerely yours, 

CHAS. U. R 



To Mr , 

Pres. Business Men's Club, 

San Antonio, Texas. 

Gentlemen: As representative of the St. Louis par- 
ties who recently bought the Gallagher property, at 
the corner of Houston and Nacogdoches Streets, I lay 
before you a proposition in which we have interest in 
common. The parties I represent have made a large 
investment in your beautiful city, and it is our inten- 
tion to improve the property in a manner that will be 
highly creditable to the city as well as to ourselves. 
The need of a first class fire-proof hotel in your city 
to accommodate the ever increasing tourist and health 
seeker's travel is so apparent that he who runs may 
read I can frankly say that we would 

—217— 



prefer to ereot a hotel on the site if certain improve- 
ments can be brought about, and it is in this matter 
that we seek your co-operation and assistance. 

I was advised that the Hugo & Schmeltzer building 
(main building of Alamo Fort) was bought by the 
State of Texas and confided to the Daughters of Texas 
with the understanding that they would wreck the 
building (the main building of the Alamo Fort) and 
convert the property into a beautiful park. This un- 
sightly building has long been an eye-sore 

Is the Business Men's Club in position to bring about 
the early wrecking of the building in question? If so 
we can materially aid in that work. We would be wil- 
ling to pay the expense of tearing down the buildings 
and removing the debris, and also to ontribute toward 
the expense of the land scape work necessary to convert 
it into a park 

It will not only clear Alamo Plaza of a highly ob- 
jectionable structure, but will open the vista of the 
postoffice and add another beautiful building. . . . 
With this accomplished, properly values in that sec- 
tion will be greatly enhanced. I would thank you to 
lay this before the business men of San Antonio for a 
full and free discussion. If they think well of it, we 
would be pleased to discuss it in detail with such of 
them as may care to join in the undertaking and take 
a certain amount of the stock of the hotel company 
which responsible parties here are willing to guarantee 

a 6 per cent per annum net income upon. 

Yours very truly, 

CHAS. M. R 

St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 30, 1906. 

The President of the De Zavala Daughters replied 
to the above letter and explained that the building sought 
to be destroyed was the main building of the Alamo 
Fort, and the building in which the majority of the 
heroes died, believing that the explanation would end 
the matter; but the time to acquire a frontage on the 

—218— 



Alamo Plaza for their property must have seemed op- 
portune, for the stockholders and promoters would not 
abandon the idea. In the attempt to acquire the frontage, 
no stone was left unturned to bring about the destruc- 
tion of the Alamo Fortress proper, and the most dis- 
graceful methods were resorted to. For years the battle 
waged between the De Zavala Daughters and various 
companies or syndicates, joined by a few self-seeking 
and envious individuals. When the Hotel Company 
gave up the struggle, an Amusement Palace Company 
took it up, and different interests entered the contest 
from time to time. During one of these harassing strug- 
gles, about 1913, the upper story of the Alamo Fortress 
proper was battered down, and, by the co-operation of 
a San Antonio local official or officials. So strong were 
the ancient walls that the sacrilegious destruction was 
effected with the greatest difficulty and only after the 
most strenuous exertions. One of the most historic parts 
of the Alamo thus fell a sacrifice to private greed and 
unsatiable ambition. 

Engaged in the conflict to save the Alamo were the 
most prominent women of Texas, socially, intellectually, 
morally, and patriotically, and all that loving interest 
and private purse could do was done, and most of them 
are still engaged in patriotic and unselfish labors. The 
majority of those chiefly responsible for the Alamo 
trouble have passed from the scene, and they did not 
accomplish their purpose. 



—219— 



Table of Contents. 



Foreword "~ ^ 

Texas— (Verse) 7-— ^ 

History of the Alamo (IMission ^San Antonio de 

Valero) " ' 

The Men of the Alamo (Verse) 51 

Ghosts of the Alamo (Verse) '^^ 

Legend of the Ghosts of the Alamo ^^ 

Legend of the Statue of Saint Anthony in the Niche 

of the Church of the Alamo ■— 56 

The Padre's Gift '^^ 

The Mysterious Woman in Blue and Her Gift to 
San Antonio by the Hands of One Woman 

in Every Generation 61 

The Courteous and Kindly Child and the Good Peo- 

pie of the Underground Passage-Way b^ 

Legend of the First Christmas at The Alamo 65 

Mission San Francisco de la Espada 6;| 

Mary Coronel of Agreda ^^'^ 

Mission de Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concep- 

cion de Acima -^^' 

Legends of INlission de Nuestra Senora de la ^^^^^i' 

sima Concepcion de Acuna ^^^ 

Mission San Juan de Capistrano --jj^? 

A Legend of the Mission (Verse) 1^^ 

IMission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo 1^^ 

Legend of the Window of the Voices 14^ 

Legend of the Bells of San Jose 14^ 

The Venerable Anthony INIargil I4h 

Two Miracle Plays of the IMissions— Los Pastores__15'^ 

El Via Crucis ■ 1^| 

Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Franciscans I'O 

San Antonio (Saint Anthony) j^^ 

San Fernando Cathedral j^^ 

Legend of El Senor de los Milagros 195 

Lawrence (Lorenzo) De Zavala 19^ 

"De Zavala Daughters" and De Zavala Chapter— 212 



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STANDARD PRINTING CO. 

PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS 

SAN ANTONIO 



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